The provincial government has implemented a special program to support essential workers who do not have access to child care.

Premier Dwight Ball announced the limited operation of regulated child care services for children age one through 13.

Ball spoke with Debbie Forward, President of the Registered Nurses’ Union, and NAPE President Jerry Earle about the program prior to the announcement.

The Premier says this is to help support and enable essential workers in providing critical services if there are no other options available to them.

He says the service will be provided at no cost.

Essential workers include people like paramedics, health care workers, fire fighters, police, correctional officers, early childhood educators providing essential child care services, and other public servants required to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An online application process has been launched on the provincial government’s COVID-19 website.

Further, the Premier claims that they have consulted with some child care providers and public health on how the service can be provided safely.

He says further information will be provided to childcare centres.

For essential workers, Ball provided a reminder: the workplace is not a social gathering, and employees and employers are expected to follow all health protocols.

Province Not Looking at Closing Non-Regulated Centres

Non-regulated child care centres are not being forced to close their doors at this time.

Premier Dwight Ball says closing non-regulated centres is not something they are looking at.

What they are looking at, Ball says, is to support essential workers who do not have childcare available to them so they can be used in the health care system. He says this way they can go to work without worrying about childcare spaces.

Ball says they do not provide operating grants and subsidies for the unregulated system, and it’s really a contract that occurs between a family and the unregulated provider.

He says it’s the operator who chooses whether or not to be a regulated childcare provider. However, the federal government may have programs available.