Limits in Your Province/Territory. please

[sunnydays]

You also have to consider cost of living when you look at the fees we are charging. I just heard on CBC the other day that Ontario and Alberta are the provinces with the highest cost of food and gas. Housing may also be more expensive.

[Rachael]

You also have to consider cost of living when you look at the fees we are charging. I just heard on CBC the other day that Ontario and Alberta are the provinces with the highest cost of food and gas. Housing may also be more expensive.

And then look at the salaries and taxes. I've had people come here from Alberta and return within 6 months because they can't afford life here. Yes, our costs of living might be less but do you know we are the highest taxed province in the country?

Food costs here are crazy. For two sons, myself and my day care, I pay over $1000 a month in food. Milk is $6.69 for 4 litres. A loaf of bread begins at $2.89. Three whole chickens in Costco is $36.00.

Gas here has gone down recently so since the last couple of weeks it's $1.20. Until recently it was around $1.36.

We have one power company, NS Power. My budget plan (payments spread evenly over the year) is $260.00 a month.

Taxes are close to 40% here when you consider PST = 15% and income taxes. We are also taxed on taxes. LOL

Alberta doesn't have any PST which is a massive saving in itself. It also has free health care. I pay $279.80 a month - that gives me 80% of prescription drugs up to $500 per year. It also gives me $500 in dental coverage and after that, they will pay 60% for the next $700. My plan anniversary date is June. For two teens, I've paid out over $500 in dental costs and have a teen whose wisdom teeth are coming out at the end of the month. Despite the insurance, that'll cost me another $2,300.00.

Yes - houses are cheaper here but that's about it. Houses bought on salaries that are a mere portion of other provinces which is why, our young adults are headed West.

[Rachael]

You might find this interesting too...http://www.topix.com/forum/ca/nova-s...CQD0HJ1S76S0M1


I do wish this myth about the East Coast being cheap would go away because it is entirely a myth.

[Van]

very interesting to read
Being in the west and know how expensive everything is out here

I look after 4 children under the age of 3 and the ratio is 4 to 1 for a licensed
infant/toddler daycare

[sunnydays]

Rachael, by "dragged down to your level" I was referring to your overly restrictive and difficult regulations...which you yourself have said are VERY difficult to work within. And as for rallying to support you...have you rallied for yourselves? Because generally those affected are the ones who start to rally (as we are doing in Ontario) and then others can support their cause. I have not heard anything about your conditions or that you are fighting to have these changed. If I did hear of such rallies, I would be supportive of fellow childcare providers trying to better conditions for themselves and the children in their care.
And yes, every profession goes through changes. And if the changes are truly for the better and increase safety or make things better in some way, then change is good. However, in this case, Bill 10 is not going to make children safer. Statistics in Ontario show that the death rate in licensed daycare is actually higher than in unlicensed. We have an excellent safety record...those of us who are following the current regulations. The current regulations work just fine. What is needed is more enforcement of the rules in order to crack down on those who are running illegal, over-ratio daycares...they are the ones who are causing problems. This Bill unfairly targets all private daycare providers while doing absolutely NOTHING to improve child safety. All it will do is create a daycare shortage and increase in rates. In fact, in some ways, I may be better off...I will have less children but charge more...less work for the same money. But I am fighting this bill because that will be so unfair to families who can barely afford daycare as it is. It will force them to put their children in illegal daycare to save money...and the children will suffer. That is my main reason for fighting this bill.

[Rachael]

However, in this case, Bill 10 is not going to make children safer. Statistics in Ontario show that the death rate in licensed daycare is actually higher than in unlicensed. We have an excellent safety record...those of us who are following the current regulations. The current regulations work just fine. What is needed is more enforcement of the rules in order to crack down on those who are running illegal, over-ratio daycares...they are the ones who are causing problems. This Bill unfairly targets all private daycare providers while doing absolutely NOTHING to improve child safety. All it will do is create a daycare shortage and increase in rates. In fact, in some ways, I may be better off...I will have less children but charge more...less work for the same money. But I am fighting this bill because that will be so unfair to families who can barely afford daycare as it is. It will force them to put their children in illegal daycare to save money...and the children will suffer. That is my main reason for fighting this bill.

I think this is very naive.

Although as providers we have each proven ourselves capable of managing the children in our care, any reduction in numbers will always mean more attention on the fewer children and it's simple math that additional attention will result in fewer injuries.

Will all accidents be prevented ? No. Because accidents are just that - accidents - but no one can argue that any situation where one is supervising many means attention is divided and the possibility of injury is therefore greater.

As it stands now in Ontatio, as detailed in this very thread, carer's own children do not count and children over the age of 10 do not count, so theoretically, an Ontario carer can have unlimited children as long as they are her own and client children over age 10.

I hear the comments that care for older children is not in high demand but the rules as they are allow unlimited children provided they are the carer's own or older than 10. So a woman with 6 kids and a day care, has her hands fairly full, wouldn't you agree? That is a safety issue however infrequently it happens.

The death rate in any province for children in day care is low compared to schools, and a host of other community supervised groups. Not all safety related concerns are measured purely by fatalities.

But your logic is not logical.

Illegal day cares and those who operate over numbers will always be a concern BUT they will only be filled with clients who seek cheap care/inexperienced carers. Every province has a proportion of parents willing to pay cash rates for no receipt, just as every province has any service provider willing to work for cash under the table. Cash prices mean corners get cut with supplies in every single profession. This is not an issue that will go away regardless of if Bill 10 goes through. It's a separate issue entirely.

I do understand that Bill 10 will mean fewer children and therefore lower your income and reduce the places available from existing carers. I also understand that many who currently run day care's will decide it's no longer viable for them and close up. But we all know as quick as one good day care provider shuts her doors, others open.

I think it's very naive that you believe your reduced places will justify you increasing your fees to make this a viable business for you personally. Bottom line, parents will pay for child care what they can afford. It's unlikely young parents will be able to conjure up the additional fees you believe you will be forced to charge to compensate your income with fewer children.

Bottom line - if your service is worth $40 today it doesn't magically become worth $60 tomorrow. Clients are not responsible for picking up the short fall.

What I predict will happen, is some carer's will jack their prices to compensate for the reduced places believing parents will pay it because they have no choice. But clients ALWAYS have options. People are resourceful.

Some parents will split the work hours so one of them is always home.
Some parents will pull in extended family for help.
Some parents will go part-time and reduce their day care expenses.
Some parents will job share and exchange child-care responsibilities.
And yes, some will go to an illegal provider because financially they have no alternative.

But I think you are naive in the belief that demand will enable you to jack your prices. Although some parents would be able to afford the increase, others simply will not be able to. Unless every single provider jacks their prices, which is unlikely, you will price yourself out of the market and your places will likely sit empty for longer.

There is always someone willing to plug the gap when a service is in demand. Because of that, some carer's will continue to charge what they do now. Their places will be filled, yours will be empty - not because of the level of care you offer but because your fees will be so much higher.

There will likely be a period of more illegal day cares who soak up the access especially in the immediate aftermath. There will also be some new day care centres opening because someone will see the opportunity of scooping up all these children who were in private daycares who find themselves without a carer. Some parents will resort to grandparents and family.

I'm sorry but with your comments about increased fees, the effects on your business, how hard it will be for your personal financial situation with fewer children - I personally am not convinced that you are fighting this bill "because that will be so unfair to families who can barely afford daycare as it is. It will force them to put their children in illegal daycare to save money...and the children will suffer." I believe you are fighting this bill because of the direct effect it will have on your family income - as would I. And, that's fine and perfectly acceptable and understanding.

I think you and I will have to accept our differences in view in this subject - and that's fine too.