The deadline has passed for daycares to opt into the provincial government含羞草研究社檚 new plan for child care in the province, and private operators in Maple Ridge are still not signing up.
That means many local families have missed out on the opportunity for saving $350 per month for infant and toddler care, and $100 per month for children three and older, for the month of April.
The deadline had been April 1, but was extended to April 20 after public criticism of the government plan. About 15 people from the largest Maple Ridge private daycare providers met in March, and agreed they would
The province has invested $1 billion over the next three years to offer financial relief to parents needing child care, to lay the foundation for .
Private operators fear the government could put them out of business, because a condition of accepting the fee subsidies is allowing government to approve future rate increases for a year.
Brittany Zimmerman, who owns and operates Conscious Kids Care in Maple Ridge, said she still needs assurance from the government that it isn含羞草研究社檛 going to put her out of business. She said the NDP has been open about wanting a publicly run system.
In its Child Care BC Caring for Kids, Lifting up Families document, the government calls the current system fragmented, and is critical of private daycares.
含羞草研究社淭he current market-based system is not meeting the demand for spaces, resulting in higher prices, lower quality and fewer choices for parents,含羞草研究社� it says. 含羞草研究社淩esearch indicates 含羞草研究社� and the current state of child care in B.C. confirms 含羞草研究社� that there are many challenges associated with market-based models 含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫
Zimmerman wants to know how the province hopes to provide universal child care, and whether she will be run out of business. So far, she said she is being given no reassurance.
含羞草研究社淚 want to opt in, but I need some answers,含羞草研究社� she said.
Reagan Gasparre, of Little Willows Early Learning Childcare, said she would like to opt in, to get the families that patronize her business a break, but said there is too much uncertainty. It含羞草研究社檚 likely she won含羞草研究社檛 opt in for May, either.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 still such a big mess,含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淚 want to opt in. Give me some more information. Calm my fears,含羞草研究社� she said.
Gasparre said the government is expected to make an announcement next month about capital funding for daycare spaces. In the past, up to $500,000 was available to non-profits for building projects, and $250,000 for private operators. The private funding was cut, and she said the government含羞草研究社檚 announcement next month will be a signal to private daycare operators whether the government wants them to stay in business.
What含羞草研究社檚 more, some private operators asking to opt in have been refused. Others have not heard back yet.
Marianne Whitaker, of Victoria-based Alphabet Zoo, said she was refused to opt in for the program, because she raised her fees by $50 per month for infant and toddler, and $20 per month for older students. She let parents know the increase was coming in January, and it took effect on April 含羞草研究社� the two-year anniversary of her business was March 7.
She had already given parents the $350 break on their fees, and Whitaker was faced with not being able to pay her staff.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 humiliating for a business owner to ask parents, 含羞草研究社楥an I have my money back.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
Any daycare that recently raised its fees could be in danger of being refused to opt in by Victoria, said Zimmerman, who had a fee increase this year.
The subsidies could put those daycares able to lower their fees at a competitive advantage.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l go under for sure if everyone around me lowers their fees,含羞草研究社� Zimmerman said.
MLA Lisa Beare, who has returned home from hospital after requiring heart surgery early in April, said in a written comment that the government is working for child care providers.
含羞草研究社淲e want to work with everyone 含羞草研究社� including non-profit, family, and private providers,含羞草研究社� said Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture.
含羞草研究社淔or too long, parents struggled to find quality care for their children in an ever-growing childcare crisis. We know many providers shared the same concerns, and they are an important part of our plan. Our new government has engaged both parents and child care providers in British Columbia, and we are taking action to make childcare more affordable through the fee reduction initiative. After engaging stakeholders, our government found that the fee reduction initiative would be the quickest way to offer immediate relief to struggling parents,含羞草研究社� she added.
含羞草研究社淚 am proud to say that in its first month, the initiative has helped over 22,000 children and their families across B.C. This initiative is only one step in our plan to ensure British Columbians has access to quality child care. This plan also includes a $136 million investment to increase supports for Early Childhood Educators, which will also involve looking at wage improvements.含羞草研究社�
Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Bob D含羞草研究社橢ith did not respond to requests for comment about the issue.
