Photo credit: A Step Above Learning Society/Facebook.

By Curtis Galbraith

Childcare Centre Closures

Two Grande Prairie child care centres part of Tuesday’s rolling closures

Jan 31, 2024 | 11:27 AM

A couple of places in Grande Prairie were part of rolling closures of childcare centres in Alberta Tuesday. The closure lasted just the one day.

Wee Care Daycare & Drop-In Centre and the A Step Above Learning Society in Grande Prairie were part of the province-wide effort organized by the Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs.

The closures were meant to draw attention to problems operators are facing since the $10 a day care deal came into place.

Christine Pasmore, the Owner/Operator of Wee Care and Executive Director for A Step Above, says they want to make people aware of what she calls “the unintentional consequences of the program.”

“The big thing that we’re really afraid of happening, and we’re seeing it already impacting daycares, is the quality of care.”

“So, (being) unable to buy the supplies we’d like to, replace furniture that needs to be, upgrade equipment in our backyards. We’re unable to pay our staff a fair, liveable wage.”

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Pasmore says 99 per cent of the parents of the 180 kids impacted by the closures have been what she calls “incredibly supportive of our action.”

“They know that we have tried every avenue to get support from our government, including meeting with the minister and talking to the premier, writing countless letters.”

“We have spent many, many hours trying to avoid getting to this spot.”

Pasmore acknowledges that parents were inconvenienced for one day, but adds if there are no changes, day cares will be closing permanently.

She adds they are asking to be able to keep up with inflation and to get their Affordability Grant payments from the government up front, rather than waiting 45 days.

The association says these grants are going up to 85 per cent of revenue, meaning operators can only access the 15 per cent parents pay, leaving them short of money.

“The majority of our parents are actually getting childcare for free now, so I am carrying 85 per cent of the revenue for the daycare for that 45 days,” says Pasmore, adding, “Honestly, on March 1, when I discount the parents the new affordability grant, I don’t have enough money to pay my rent, let alone the staff or the utilities, benefits, the cost of groceries.”

Pasmore says they are willing to work with the government on a solution for the sake of the kids and their families.