Hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for affordable child care left untouched: coalition
Hundreds of thousands of dollars, originally intended to help low and middle income families afford daycare, is sitting in the bank accounts of childcare centres. But, due to the large surplus, the funds could now be going to higher income families as well.
Lisa Hrechkosy, the executive director of Stanley Knowles Children's Centre, says they’ve encouraged families to apply for subsidized childcare fees but they still have tens of thousands of dollars untouched.
“I think affordability is crucial, and the subsidy advance didn’t target families who really needed it the most. Families who could afford paying childcare were given direction to apply for subsidy are now getting credits,” she said.
The Childcare Coalition of Manitoba says this is the only province to use the subsidy system for the credits.
Lori Isber, a parent with the coalition, says the subsidy is difficult to apply for, stigmatized, and communication about applying was limited.
“We were told by the government we couldn’t disperse it unless families applied for subsidy, and families didn’t apply for subsidy because there was no official Manitoba messaging around it," she said. "Messaging went out through daycare childcare centres.”
The coalition says hundreds of thousands of dollars from a $19 million Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is waiting to be used.
"We did have probably three quarters left in the subsidy advance that we were just advised that we needed to find out how we were going to spend that money moving forward," Hrechkosy said.
“Those dollars are going to childcare fees or reducing those childcare fees, and yes I'm assuming some of those higher income families will be receiving some dollars.”
Jodie Kehl, executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, said all families in the province of Manitoba were encouraged to apply for childcare subsidy regardless of their income.
"Again, if we are talking about affordability, we need to know which families really need childcare and affordable childcare," Kehl said, adding the current system is not equitable.
“Let’s get rid of the subsidy system and let’s use a sliding scale where families based on their net income would pay a percentage of that income up to a maximum fee.”
She said the lowest amount a household using subsidy will pay for childcare is $2 a day, but some cannot afford that.
Provincially funded facilities can charge up to $42 a day for an infant and $28.20 for school-aged children for full days.
The province says it will not require centers to return the remaining funds.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.