Open letter to all parties:
As a childcare provider and parent for 14-plus years, I would like to know where all parties stand when it comes to childcare.
I would like to see a commitment made by government to support childcare.
I see these steps as an important start:
• Make the Direct Operating Grant permanent for licensed centres and dayhomes. A portion of this grant supplements wages for trained professionals. Without this income, facilities are unable to uphold wage scales. These are hardworking people who deserve well-paying jobs.
• Continue funding education of childcare providers, but expand funding to include distance education. This increases access to opportunities for employees.
• The childcare subsidy program needs a small revamp. The eligibility approval letter and application need updating. The online eligibility calculator is not effective.
• Increase staff in childcare services unit to help accommodate increased applications for the subsidy program. Delays at this unit can cause increased paperwork as well as financial and mental stress for both the facility and the parent.
I would encourage all candidates to think about the families they know who are affected by this system.
No matter what team you’re on, we all have families. I would like to see us make more of a commitment to them.
I will be listening, and voting.
Chani Fleshman
Whitehorse