Parent voices frustration over delayed opening of new child-care centres

Parents are joining a chorus of others who are voicing concerns over government delays that are keeping $10-a-day child-care spaces from opening across parts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"This is life-changing for families," Erin Cullen, a founding member of ABCs and ECEs N.L., told CBC News Friday.

"It's really, really just totally disheartening to hear that we have operators who are saying 'I'm ready to go, I'm ready to open up spaces.'"

Cullen said she's heard from several prospective child-care operators that are stuck waiting for approval from the provincial government to get new facilities open.

Some operators have told her that they've gotten permits from their towns or municipalities, but approval from the province is the final hurdle," she said.

"We've been hearing [they're] waiting on one signature to get funding released, but essentially no funds are coming through," Cullen said. "It's being hung up, and [they're] not sure why."

Cullen said she's also heard about other hang-ups from operators. In one instance, a child-care centre has been able to be regulated for care, but is unable to join the province's operating grant program that would allow them to provide $10-a-day child care.

She said those spaces are invaluable for parents trying to avail of them.

"Each individual family getting access to $10-a-day child care, it makes a huge difference for them," she said. "It feels like winning the lottery for most people."

Early Childhood Development Minister Bernard Davis said Friday that hundreds of applicants are seeking to open child-care spaces — and that staff are working with them through all stages of the process.

"There's some people in this application process that would have just been reaching out, initial stages saying 'This is the idea we have, can this work? How would we work in the system?' And our staff are working with them," Davis said.

"There's others that are closing in on the end of this continuum.… Just this past week, we approved one in Bay St. George that was ready to go, while others are not in that final stage of readiness. There is others that we're working very closely with, so I would say stay tuned."

The approved centre Davis spoke of is in St. George's. Parents in that community were the first to voice their concerns in May. Daycare operator Rhonda Sheppard confirmed Friday that the centre was approved.

Davis said creating $10-a-day child-care spaces is a priority for himself and for Premier John Hogan. He said he's committed to opening spaces as quickly as possible, but avoided mentioning potential timelines.