While many daycares in the province are facing the cut of the $25-per-day daycare program as early as June, the WHDCS is in the second year of (ELCC) funding and it is expected to continue until March 2021 according to executive director Kelsey Vowel.
“It’s not a surprise that it was cut because after three years the contract is over so I'm not going to be surprised if our funding is cut after March 2021,” she said. “Hopefully not, if we could get an extension of that would be wonderful.”
There are over 90 families who use the daycare program; 27 at Athabasca University, 37 at the Multiplex and 26 more using the out-of-school program at Whispering Hills Primary School and the ELCC allows families who qualify pay only $25 per day up to $550 per month.
The UCP government has already cut the Benefit Contribution Grant which helps cover the cost of CPP, vacation pay and other benefits for daycare providers.
"Some centers will be losing up to like $50,000 a year to help them that cost of what the government has also provided for us over the years,” Vowel said. “Because of those grants, it has given us a lot of opportunity to enhance our program and so it's worth trying to stick around if we can get it extended. It's the best for us to speak up and say that (getting rid of the grants) does hurt childcare.”
The cuts to the grants must be made up somehow to ensure the doors stay open. There are still strict ratios daycares must maintain so decisions must be made about staffing, benefits, increasing user fees, or limiting childcare spaces.
“It's about people really saying what they need, the families need to step up (and say) 'Hey government this isn't working,'” Vowel expressed. "As of right now they're saying it's not going to affect parents, but it is because for nonprofit organizations if money is taken away from us our source of income is from our families. And so that means, unfortunately, that has to be raised.”
The BCG is a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the daycare as in order to qualify for it the daycare must be accredited which is not easy to do and most staff make minimum wage, so any additional help is always needed.
“It's a hard balance game and it defeats you a little bit when government takes away funding, such as the benefit contribution grad, because that takes away from centers that are accredited, and to become an accredited center is a lot of work it; we have to go through it every two years,” Vowel said. “It's like we're rewarded for having this high-quality care but now we're punished because it's now being taken away from us.”
Daycare staff are making little money yet are expected to take courses and deal with all sorts of childhood personalities. They wish the government would give them some respect for all the work they do, and Vowel hopes families and the community will support them.
“I have an education behind how to manage children,” she said. “(We just want) to be recognized for what we’re doing, acknowledged that the work that we’re putting in here is high quality childcare.”
The WHDCS is also looking for volunteers for Feb. 7 and 8 casinos in Fort McMurray to help offset costs, typically generating $40,000.
"(It) is our one of our big sources of money, especially for a nonprofit organization like ourselves. If we don't have these grants, our casino funds are basically how we help operate so it helps cover costs for facility operations and things like that,” Vowel explained. “It is a big portion of our money when we don't have this lovely ELCC grant that it's important for us to attend and do.”
To be an eligible volunteer you need to be 18 and parent/guardian (to fill certain volunteer positions) or be a member of the general Athabasca community.
All casino related travel, food and accommodation costs are covered, and no experience is required.
To help WHDCS at the casino contact Kelsey Vowel at [email protected]
