Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

[giraffe]

Sent this to the Globe

To Whom it May Concern,

I am an unlicensed provider and run a successful home daycare in Toronto's west end. I have a Master's degree in Social Work with a specialization in children's mental health and child development. I opened a home daycare to be able to afford the luxury and privilege of staying home with my two young girls. This was a choice I made because I want to be with my girls but also a necessity because the cost of sending two children to daycare would leave nothing from my pay once daycare fees were paid.

Why isn’t the media covering the fact that if this new Bill gets introduced there will be very few infant daycare spaces available? We already have a shortage but some balance was created by unlicensed providers who could take more than 2 infants under the current rules. With new ratio rules for providers we can only care for 2 children under 2 yrs old which includes our own children. The majority of us will either shut down (we can’t make a living with only 2-3 children in our care) or increase our rates to account for the loss in income. Parents are being blinded to the whole story and are only being told how this Bill will “keep kids safe.” No one seems to be aware that their child’s spot at daycare may cease to exist once this is passed (I will have to terminate services for 2-3 kids depending on how the Bill is structured).

I am unlicensed by choice and I encourage my families to visit licensed providers supervised by Wee Watch etc before signing with me. Just because someone is with an agency, this does not mean their services/program is better. Families sign with me because they see what else is out there. I looked into licensed home daycare options when I went back to work after my first mat leave and my options were bleak at best. One provider had a climbing structure in some man’s apartment above hers where she brought the kids to play. When I called the agency they were not aware of this. Well what else don’t they know about? Another provider spoke little English and had no programming aside from a basket of toys on the floor. The last licensed daycare I visited had “Dora” on the TV and one child just screaming in an exersaucer. The provider didn’t pick him up or even acknowledge him. I was so uncomfortable I took my daughter and left. Licensing does not mean better!


With the proposed changes, it will make things very difficult to continue to stay home with my girls and keep my business viable. This Bill is intended to ensure there are no additional tragedies like we have seen. These "babysitters" that warehouse children should not be put in the same category as me or many other providers. I run a TV free, highly structured program with tons of experiential learning and outdoor time. My clients often choose me because of the large amount of time we spend outdoors (4+ hours in the summer, 2-3 in the winter. I am open to becoming licensed as I think accountability and inspections are important. I do not however want to become licensed through an agency. I do not need their support in finding clients, or to borrow their resources. I have independent insurance; I am CPR certified and have a current clean police check. I have tons of experience and education. I am not however interested in giving them a chunk of my daily fees. I would be open to a yearly licensing fee similar to what one pays a professional college (e.g. College of Social Workers) to cover inspections etc.

Love love!! You should send it everywhere