Some N.W.T. child care providers say they're still skeptical about $10-a-day daycare

As a parent raising children in the N.W.T., Melissa Syer says she's enthusiastic about the federal and territorial government rolling out cheaper daycare in the N.W.T. faster than expected.

As someone involved in the operation of a daycare, it's a different story.

"I'm skeptical, maybe even a little worried," said Syer, the president of the Yellowknife Daycare Association.

The federal and territorial governments announced a shortened time frame last Thursday, meaning daycare costing an average of $10 a day should be available as of April 1 for regulated child care spaces in the territory. That's part of a $51.1-million deal Ottawa announced in late 2021 to bring 300 new N.W.T. child care spaces online by 2026.

But the early years of the program have been rocky, with some child care providers arguing the territory's rules for funding have made it hard for them to operate.

Providers have expressed concern over issues like wage caps, capacity limits and staffing since the rollout began.  

Syer said the Yellowknife Daycare Association has a lot of moving parts, and funding isn't allocated for some of their services.

"There's been lots of questions. To double down on this right now — I'd like to be optimistic, but I'm skeptical."

She said backup teachers, and the association's full-time cook, are not covered under the new model. 

Additionally, the association handles its mortgage and capital improvements itself.

Syer said the complexity of the funding often leads to a headache. 

"The administration of these programs and working through the paperwork that comes along with the funding is almost another full-time job for an executive director," she said. 

Fourteen communities in the N.W.T. do not have licensed early learning and child care programs, according to the territorial government.

Norman Wells is one of those communities, despite local efforts to get a program started.