I feel your pain Starshine - it might depend on your province and how childcare works and viewed and what is 'customary' for you area - this is the NORM in my city to have theses things... the Ontario Early Years centres and other government agency do a great job of promoting what to look for in 'quality childcare' and contracts and policies and so forth are things on their 'checklists' and in fact those who do not are well often red flagged by most clients seeking care as 'why not' and they have the opposite expereince as you - they struggle to be full.

However some people will just never 'get' it - the reality is that either way they ARE paying for these things either directly or indirectly ... this is why I offer clients TWO payment options a lower consistent fee for the 'spot' where the fees are the same 52 weeks a year regardless if I am closed, sick, on vacation (as long as I do not exceed the agreed upon closures) OR a higher weekly fee where they do not pay me for the closures but in the END after 52 weeks both plans are the SAME it is just in how you BUDGET .... so for some people SEEING that option A) is a nice consistent fee easier to budget for verses option B) which is well much higher for the most part because it factors in the 'lost income' on the weeks I am closed and therefore they are paying me less and than I have to budget to put aside money for those closed without pay times