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Just eight per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador children have adequate access to child care spaces. That figure was cited in a new report by YWCA St. John's this week, which laid out eight barriers to child care access and potential solutions.
"Knowing that we only have eight per cent of this province with child care coverage, means that solutions are really important," YWCA executive director Maria Gentle told CBC News Thursday.
"[We asked] 'what are the solutions that you need? What are the solutions that your community needs?' and that led to the recommendations."
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Gentle said the new YWCA report identified barriers ranging from a lack of recognition for early childhood educators to growing waitlists, poverty, a lack of equitable access and transportation challenges.
Newfoundland and Labrador's $10-a-day child care has helped, she said, but demand far exceeds supply. The province ranks fifth out of nine provinces in the proportion of new spaces that are part of the agreement, the centre's report noted.
Waitlists can reach two years in some cases, and Gentle says that serves as a barrier for both newcomers hoping to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador and women hoping to re-enter the workforce.
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Among other recommendations, Gentle said she wants to see a commitment to strengthening a public, non-profit child care system.
She also believes that child care should be part of core social infrastructure for all government projects moving forward — like, for example, ensuring all future built schools have child care centres built-in.
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"Hopefully moving forward with the committee, and some of the activity there today, we'll be able to prioritize what their top needs are and work from there," Dinn said Thursday.
"Change doesn't happen quickly. You have to work on it, and that's what we're going to do."
Dinn said the province will also look to the federal government for more funding under the CWELCC agreement, which the previous Liberal provincial government extended until 2031.
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