There has been a mixed reaction to the P.E.I. government’s efforts to improve access to before and after-school care.
Tuesday, the province announced grants to help existing child-care programs cover their costs, and to encourage more to start up — though some parents and operators question whether it will make much of a difference.
Little Ducklings ran an after-school program at its Stratford location for a couple of years. But last June, owner Nicole Ford decided to close the program and open up more daylong spaces for younger kids instead.
Some other centres made the same move.
“Financially we couldn’t afford it — for the staffing, the rent, the children, it was either to gouge the parents large amounts of money, or go without,” Ford said.
“So we had to close it and start early years again.”
At early years centres, staff wages and parent fees are subsidized by the government. Before and after-school programs are not, …