Daycare dilemma: Private operators say 'socialist takeover' will drive most out of business
Daycare operators in Nova Scotia say the rush to $10/day childcare in five years may end up putting some out of business a lot sooner than that.
The province has offered childcare operators three options under the new model, options that some say are not economically feasible.
They also say it's the kind of move you wouldn't expect in a democratic country.
"It's a socialist takeover of businesses, mainly and predominantly owned by women,” says Chris Morash, owner of Beech Tree Academy in Beechville, N.S.
"The government is presenting it as an opportunity for people to get $10 a day daycare, but in the meantime, they have thrown the baby out with the bathwater."
In a joint federal announcement last week, the province moved to cut childcare fees by 25 per cent, an early move in a race to slash daycare costs to $10 a day in the next five years.
“It's historic. The impact will be felt for generations,” said Premier Tim Houston, at the virtual event last week.
However, some Nova Scotia operators say they've been left behind in the rush, given a tight deadline to choose between three options: stay private, become non-profit, or opt out and lose their subsidies, all of which will essentially drive them out of business.
"They're giving us a deadline of March 18 to sign agreements that would basically give them full access to our private centres,” says Donna Buckland, owner and director of Giant Steps Children's Centre, adding operators have always supported affordable childcare.
“The $10 a day daycare is something that I’ve been looking forward to my whole career. Affordable, accessible childcare for this country is just amazing, and I think it’s the direction we need to go in, as well as a compensation package for early childhood educators."
According to Buckland, some Nova Scotia childcare businesses were built over generations.
"Basically, what we're telling our parents is we just need more information and we need more time in order to make a decision that's going to mean that we're not going close our doors. Because the three options that they've given us to date are not acceptable and many operators will close their doors if we don't see a change," says Buckland.
Although the government inherited the deal from the Rankin Liberals, Nova Scotia Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Becky Druhan says her department has been negotiating with operators, and will continue to do so.
"We want to see them all involved in the future system we're building,” says Druhan. "There are many, many options available to them."
In a series of meetings, including one on Sunday, about 200 operators say they're joining forces and will refuse to sign the deal.
Acknowledging that the province has provided operators funding to discuss the matter with lawyers, accountants and financial advisors, Buckland says the nationalization of the industry goes even further than socialism.
"When I emailed my accountant, he basically said, ‘I can’t believe they’re trying to do this. This is communism,'" Buckland says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.