|
HRM's Only Francophone Daycare Expansion Plan Stymied By DCS 'Grant' Restrictions |
|
|
|
Written by NDP
|
|
Thursday, 02 February 2006 |
Dartmouth East NDP MLA Joan Massey is calling on Community Services Minister David Morse to review the Department's child care centre expansion grant program after learning the grant offered to a francophone child care centre in her riding was actually more like a loan with numerous restrictions.
"What sounds like a great idea is actually a huge disincentive to the child care sector," says Massey. "We're supposed to be increasing opportunities for early learning, not trying to hamstring operators."
In October 2005, La Garderie Le Petit Voilier was awarded a grant of $50,661 to help expand by 24 seats. After reading the accompanying documentation, it was learned that the centre would have to repay the funds if it changed any aspect of its programming in the next ten years.
"After talking with the operators, it's clear the so-called grant involves a large risk on their part. The example I was given was that if they had trouble finding French-speaking early childhood educators and had to reduce capacity temporarily, that would be considered a violation and they would have to repay the entire amount
immediately."
"Le Petit Voilier provides a service that is in short supply, but how can it be expected to guarantee its business conditions for the next ten years? The Department is simply being too restrictive and has to be more realistic about operating a child care centre."
La Garderie Le Petit Voilier is the only francophone, full-service, not-for-profit child care centre in the Halifax Regional Municipality. |
