Families and advocates calling for more support in childcare sector
COVID-19 continues to be a challenge for childcare centres in the province.
Many facilities say they’re overwhelmed with cases spreading among staff and children. Now families and advocates are calling on the province to provide more support and resources for a sector they believe is being ignored.
Kirstin Valcourt has had to work from home for the majority of January.
Her 20-month-old son is in childcare, and over the past month she’s had to self-isolate for ten days on three separate occasions after being in close contact with a COVID case.
She said it takes a toll on working families.
“We’re living in an environment nowadays where it’s two working parents, it’s both mom and dad that are working, and they can’t be taking off ten days at a time,” said Valcourt.
Valcourt isn’t the only one feeling the strain COVID is putting on the childcare system.
The Manitoba and Child Care Association (MCCA) said facilities are overwhelmed right now with an influx of Omicron cases among children and staff.
Executive Director, Jodie Kehl is calling on the province to provide clear guidelines for childcare centres in the province.
“There is a lot of inconsistencies right now between both childcare and education, but also just between childcare programs themselves, and that’s really concerning, it’s really frustrating for families,” said Kehl.
Kehl said government funding for short-staffed centres can be difficult to qualify for, leaving many centres with no choice but to charge families whose children aren’t able to access the programming while isolating.
“I think we need to remove any barriers for facilities right now that are trying to stay operational.”
Earlier this month, assistant professor of Microbiology and Statistics at the University of Manitoba, Aleeza Gerstein started collecting survey data from more than 300 childcare centres to get some clarification as to how many cases were in the sector.
“Twenty-five per cent of the facilities that answered our survey had either one cohort, multiple cohorts, or the entire facility closed because either there were so many positive infections, or enough staff were infected or isolating that they didn’t have enough staff to keep the facility open,” said Gerstein.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the province said:
“Early Learning and Child Care service providers continue to be prioritized to receive test kits for the purpose of testing designated, unvaccinated staff, volunteers, students and contractors. Additionally, eligibility criteria has been expanded to include symptomatic staff, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. The use of rapid antigen tests will help in limiting the risk of transmission of COVID-19 when adults are working in close proximity to children.”
But Gerstein said the government needs to do more, like giving the sector unrestricted access to rapid tests.
“(The sector needs) N95 masks, rapid tests, grants for increased ventilation, and the they need better communication. They need a phone number that they can call to get clarification on what the guidelines should be,” said Gerstein. “This is all doable, this could be done today.”
Gerstein is continuing to collect survey data every week.
Valcourt also hopes to see more done.
“There needs to be more government support for rapid tests, they should have the N95 masks, that should be taken care of.”
The province said the needs of the childcare workforce are continually being evaluated based on public health guidance and formal discussions.
The MCCA said it’s working on getting more guideline clarification this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.