CUPE calls on government to improve child care

[Jan 27, 2009 09:52 AM]

Regina: Child care workers and parents with children at Argyle Park Child Care and Community Day Care in Regina say governments must provide more financial support for licensed child care centres in Saskatchewan.

Earlier this month, the Regina Community Clinic – which runs the two day cares – announced it planned to close both centres on February 28, as it could no longer afford to operate them. The decision has left parents scrambling to make alternate arrangements for their children, in a city where waiting lists for child care can rival waiting lists for surgeries.

Only 5.9% of Saskatchewan children 0 – 12 years of age have access to regulated child care spaces – the lowest rate in the country.

 “The lack of affordable, quality child care in the province is taking a terrible toll on families,” says Tom Graham, CUPE Saskatchewan President. “Governments must step up and ‘secure the future’ of early learning and child care in this province.”

Community Child Care, which has 30 child care spaces for pre-school children, has been operating for 34 years, while Argyle Park Child Care, which provides care to 30 school-age children, has been operating for five years.

At a news conference on Wednesday, child care workers and parents will talk about the need for governments to address the lack of affordable, quality, child care in the city.

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For more information contact Beth Smillie at 229-4908.