A regulated child care provider has been told she has to accept reduced daily rates in order for her families to avail of $25 a day child care services.
Kendra Harrigan operates a home-based daycare in Witless Bay and says access to quality child care will be diminished as a result.
She charges $45 a day for the service which meets all government regulations including programming and the provision of meals and snacks.
Harrigan received a letter from government late Friday indicating that she will only receive $38 a day and she will not be able to avail of the program if that doesn’t change. She says it’s left her “sick to her stomach” as she contemplates how to proceed.
A big portion of her daily costs involves healthy meals and snacks that her children like. She’s not sure how she’ll be able to offer the current meal plan if she’s forced to take the pay cut.
If she does agree to a lower income, then Harrigan expects she will lose some of the families who rely on her as they seek less expensive child care options.
Minister Responds
The Minister responsible for Early Childhood Education says a formalized consultation process on the provision of $25 a day child care is expected early in the new year.
Osborne couldn’t speak to specific circumstances, but says further subsidies are available depending on the care and programming provided.
He says centre-based child care operators receive a slightly higher subsidy because their expenses, including things like rent and snow clearing, are greater.
