Explain Lack of Childcare Options - QP
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I can't help but notice this government is faster and better except for when it's slower. (Laughter) Ask almost every parent in the province, for instance, and they will tell you that this government's boasting about new child care spots is far from reality. They have shifted target deadlines and played with numbers, but parents know that it is not enough.
In the funding agreement, the bilateral agreement with their federal counterparts, their stated plan is to open at least 4,000 new child care spaces by the 2022-23 fiscal year, and I'll table that. Instead, department data shows that the total number of spaces is less than a third - 1,245 spaces, not counting the ones that have since closed, and I'll table that.
I hope the Premier can explain how with millions of dollars in federal funding, and almost two years in government, they have failed so spectacularly to meet this target.
THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, we know the importance of affordable child care. We're working with the federal government on the agreement to make sure that Nova Scotians have access to affordable child care. The minister at the department, the team working on that is moving forward to make sure Nova Scotians have access to affordable child care. That's the only thing that's guiding us on this file - affordable child care for Nova Scotians. That's our focus. That's our goal and we'll move forward as we can on that.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The Premier, of all people, should know that the difference between knowing something is important and acting on it is very different.
Most of the new child care spaces created have been in before- and after-school care, not in daycares for infants and toddlers. In fact, infant and toddler spots have risen by - wait for it - 14. Fourteen is the number since 2021, and I'll table that. Parents of infants are reporting that they can't even find an open wait-list, let alone a daycare spot.
A Halifax-area mother recently reported calling 52 daycares without luck, and now has nowhere to turn. Another mother told the media that, "It's very stressful not knowing when I can return [to work]. My mental well-being, my financial well-being, my child's well-being, really, it's all dependent on finding proper care and going back to work."
THE SPEAKER « » : Question, please.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Families can't work if they don't have child care. What does the Premier suggest they do?
THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, we know the importance of affordable child care. That's why we're working so hard to open up the spaces for families. We know what it means to families. We know what it means to our economy. We're focused on opening up those spaces. We're working just as hard as we can with the operators, and we'll get spots opened as soon as we can. It's a priority for us and it's a priority for Nova Scotians. That's why we're working so hard on this file.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, 14 spaces. We've heard from parents who are concerned that the government's failure to deliver spaces is resulting in huge fees, the exact opposite of the intent of the bilateral agreement.
Reese Clements put her child on a wait-list at a Halifax centre when she was eight months' pregnant and was asked to pay both a non-refundable deposit and a full month's fee in advance, without the promised reduction that would have been in effect, just to get on the wait-list. The upfront cost of getting on a wait-list was $1,400 and came with no guarantee of a spot, and I'll table that.
Why is the government content to let families continue to pay the price of broken child care promises?
THE PREMIER « » : I just want to assure those Nova Scotians who are seeking child care, we understand. We're working hard on that. We're working with the federal government. The investments that are being made and those working in the sector, those are important. The spots that we can open, maybe it is only 14. Also important that it's - we're moving forward, Mr. Speaker. We'll do what we can. Nova Scotians know that we're working hard on this file. We'll continue to work on that file just as hard as we can.