Incentives offered for after-school care in P.E.I, but some wonder if it's enough

There has been a mixed reaction to the P.E.I. government's efforts to improve access to before and after-school care.

Tuesday, the province announced grants to help existing child-care programs cover their costs, and to encourage more to start up though some parents and operators question whether it will make much of a difference.

Little Ducklings ran an after-school program at its Stratford location for a couple of years. But last June, owner Nicole Ford decided to close the program and open up more daylong spaces for younger kids instead.

Some other centres made the same move.

"Financially we couldn't afford it for the staffing, the rent, the children, it was either to gouge the parents large amounts of money, or go without," Ford said.

"So we had to close it and start early years again."

At early years centres, staff wages and parent fees are subsidized by the government. Before and after-school programs are not, but the province announced some financial help on Tuesday.

One-time grant

Existing operators can apply for a one-time grant of $300 per child to help with operating costs.

Those looking to launch a new program could get $3,000 to cover some start-up expenses.

"We are hearing that there is access issues in some areas," said Education Minister Natalie Jameson.

"So we want to be there to provide supports to operators looking to enter the space, or those already in it to ensure they have adequate funding to offer their services."

New funding for after-school child care is much needed, say P.E.I. parents and operators

24 days ago

Duration 3:22

The provincialgovernment announced new funding for centres that provide after-school care, and incentives for more to open. CBC's Steve Bruce speaks with Education Minister Natalie Jameson about why it was neede. We also hear from the L.M. Montgomery Home and School Association's Cara Dempsey, parent Alana MacGuigan, and child-care centre operator Nicole Ford about whether the funding is enough.

Alana MacGuigan is having a hard time finding part-time after-school care for her six-year-old daughter. She said it's clear there's a need for more spaces, and more funding.

"I have to keep my job, obviously, to contribute to my household. We're not in the kind of economy that allows for many single-income households," MacGuigan said. "And I enjoy my work. I like working here. So we have to find a spot for my daughter after school."

'This is tokenism'

The P.E.I. government doesn't track how many parents are looking for before and after-school care. Liberal education critic Gord McNeilly said it's clear there's a shortage of spaces, and one-time grants won't do much to solve the problem.

"I see a $3,000 grant. What's that going to do in the grand scheme of things?" he said. "This is tokenism and to get by with a nice announcement that does absolutely nothing for the hard-working families of Prince Edward Island."

Ford agrees.

"It should help operators for a short period of time. But it's not going to make it sustainable by any means," she said."And $3,000 as a startup incentive, if you're starting with no materials or anything, I'm not sure how much that would help."

Cara Dempsey, co-chair of the L.M. Montgomery Home and School Association, said there are 560 students at the school, and she hears from people a couple of times a week who are looking for child care before and after school.

She hopes the province's grant will encourage more operators to open up space.

"We need it now unfortunately," Dempsey said.

"A lot of people can't go back to work because they don't have that care.So it's definitely a huge need to get people back into the workforce."