EXCERPTS
The City of Calgary is exploring licensing private dayhomes.
Under a proposal brought forward last year, the City is considering a municipal business license for unlicensed home-based child care providers (also known as private dayhomes).
Cynthia Paralta, owner of Pingo’s Dayhome, has been caring for Calgary children for the past five years. She told Global News she knows the importance of following all of the provincial rules — even though she’s not licensed.
“If I’m following all the regulations, I’m ok, my children are ok — my families are ok.”
The City of Calgary is exploring licensing private dayhomes.
Under a proposal brought forward last year, the City is considering a municipal business license for unlicensed home-based child care providers (also known as private dayhomes).
Cynthia Paralta, owner of Pingo’s Dayhome, has been caring for Calgary children for the past five years. She told Global News she knows the importance of following all of the provincial rules — even though she’s not licensed.
“If I’m following all the regulations, I’m ok, my children are ok — my families are ok.”
The City of Calgary is exploring licensing private dayhomes.
Under a proposal brought forward last year, the City is considering a municipal business license for unlicensed home-based child care providers (also known as private dayhomes).
Cynthia Paralta, owner of Pingo’s Dayhome, has been caring for Calgary children for the past five years. She told Global News she knows the importance of following all of the provincial rules — even though she’s not licensed.
“If I’m following all the regulations, I’m ok, my children are ok — my families are ok.”
A provincial group representing the private dayhome sector is also on board with the move.
“It’s positive yes,” the CEO of Embolden Private Dayhome Community Danielle Bourdin said.
Bourdin told Global News the city’s proposal could help improve basic safety standards and create more available spots. However, she does not expect it to improve affordability for parents who choose private child care.
Right now in Alberta, unlicensed home-based child care operators do not qualify to offer government subsidies or grants and Bourdin doesn’t expect that to change with this shift.
A provincial group representing the private dayhome sector is also on board with the move.
“It’s positive yes,” the CEO of Embolden Private Dayhome Community Danielle Bourdin said.
Bourdin told Global News the city’s proposal could help improve basic safety standards and create more available spots. However, she does not expect it to improve affordability for parents who choose private child care.
Right now in Alberta, unlicensed home-based child care operators do not qualify to offer government subsidies or grants and Bourdin doesn’t expect that to change with this shift.
Paralta said she is willing to pay, but there could be a tradeoff.
“It could be another issue, that I need to add that fee to my families because I cannot absorb that fee,” she said. “We’ll see how much it is and what could be the benefit for me.”
One of those benefits, according to Bourdin, is the increase in respect.
“The benefit to providers is to legitimize their business,” she said. “And to say, ‘I’m not just the babysitter down the street. I do have a legitimate dayhome business.'”
Paralta said she is willing to pay, but there could be a tradeoff.
“It could be another issue, that I need to add that fee to my families because I cannot absorb that fee,” she said. “We’ll see how much it is and what could be the benefit for me.”
One of those benefits, according to Bourdin, is the increase in respect.
“The benefit to providers is to legitimize their business,” she said. “And to say, ‘I’m not just the babysitter down the street. I do have a legitimate dayhome business.'”
Paralta said she is willing to pay, but there could be a tradeoff.
“It could be another issue, that I need to add that fee to my families because I cannot absorb that fee,” she said. “We’ll see how much it is and what could be the benefit for me.”
One of those benefits, according to Bourdin, is the increase in respect.
“The benefit to providers is to legitimize their business,” she said. “And to say, ‘I’m not just the babysitter down the street. I do have a legitimate dayhome business.'”