Child Care Now Newfoundland and Labrador (CCN NL) has issued a statement welcoming the provincial government’s promise of more child care spaces in the coming years but also expressing concern about an apparent shift in provincial policy that will see a big growth in the number of for-profit programs financed with public funds.
“We recognize the leadership this province has shown in making licensed child care more available, and in improving benefits for child care staff,” said Kimberly Dreaddy, Executive Director of the Jimmy Pratt Foundation. “But we want to see public money and government efforts directed at expanding non-profit child care options for families.”
Child Care Now NL says that Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister Bernard Davis was incorrect when he suggested it isn’t a problem for the government to finance the operations of commercial child care operators. In fact, doing so goes against the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) funding agreement which states that federal funds must be used to build a primarily not-for-profit system of child care.
“Child care should be a public good, not a private investment,” said Maria Gentle, YWCA St. John’s. “There is overwhelming evidence from Canada and around the world that publicly funded services are better and more accountable when they are delivered by non-profit organizations.”
“Child care should be a public good, not a private investment. There is overwhelming evidence from Canada and around the world that publicly funded services are better and more accountable when they are delivered by non-profit organizations.”” Maria Gentle, YWCA St. John’s.
Child Care Now NL is calling on the provincial government to uphold its commitments, clarify its funding practices, and ensure that public dollars support only the expansion of not-for-profit and family-based child care, as per the terms of federal and provincial agreements.