A local daycare operator says she was shocked to see Premier Andrew Furey reiterate his commitment to $25 dollar-a-day daycare – with no consultation with operators – even as the school system gets extra resources to deal with COVID-19.

Gail Sullivan operates Happy Times Daycare in St. John’s.

She told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly the industry is struggling as it is.

Sullivan says early childhood educators are essential workers and they’ve had to hire extra staff, with no compensation. They are struggling to find qualified early childhood educators while the school boards are hiring level two ECEs as classroom assistants. She’s frustrated and wants to know who’s offsetting the cost?