Rules that went into effect in Nova Scotia this year are financially hurting private daycare operators, according to a group that represents them.
“I’m aware of six centres that, in the next 12 months, can close because of this situation,” said Heather Hansen-Dunbar, chairperson of the Private Licensed Administrators Association of Nova Scotia.
“We have no problem paying our staff more. They are absolutely worth more,” said Carrie Smith, co-owner of Willow Creek Children’s Centre in Middle Sackville.
However, finding the funds to do so is “a struggle,” she said, because the other change brought in is that operators now have to cap fee increases.
At the same time, the government brought in grants for operators to help ease the financial hit, but Smith said it’s not enough.
“We have 14 staff people, 12 of whom would be benefiting from the new wage floor, so $8,000 divided by 12 staff was not enough to cover where we needed to be,” she said.
Heather Fairbairn, a spokesperson for the Education and Early Childhood Development department, said no one was available for an interview on Tuesday but provided Global News with a statement.
“We want all childcare centres to succeed, including commercial and not-for-profit centres, and that is why we are currently engaged in consultations with the sector to develop a new funding model,” the statement read.
A meeting with sector representatives to hear their concerns, which Hansen-Dunbar is attending, is scheduled for Thursday.