Last week, the Government of Canada and the GNWT announced that as of Apr. 1, 2024, the NWT will have reached an average $10-a-day childcare.

Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, said the number was reached two years ahead of schedule and that itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to note that the $10-a-day amount is the average cost around the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淚t means that while some families may pay more than $10 a day, others may pay less than $10 a day. On average though, licensed child care fees across the territory work out to $10 a day,SA国际影视传媒� she said in the legislative assembly on Feb. 22.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 because of a combination of free programs and those that charge fees, she added.

But while child care will become cheaper for some, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still a long way to go, said Patricia Davison, chair of the NWT Early Childhood Association (NWTECA).

It starts with what SA国际影视传媒榓verageSA国际影视传媒� really means.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I asked about that, I was told that how they came up with that average is they took all of the programs across the NWT and all of the fees that are paid, and they averaged it out,SA国际影视传媒� Davison explained.

The catch is that there are many programs that do not have any family fees being sponsored by Indigenous groups that negotiate funding with the federal government instead, said Davison.

Those programs are of no cost to the families, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淪o what that means is thereSA国际影视传媒檒l be a number of spaces that will still be charging family fees well above the $10, a day after April 1.SA国际影视传媒�

Davison said that most families who are paying for childcare will be paying more than $10 a day.

SA国际影视传媒淣othing has really changed for families that I can see in the next month,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淢aybe theySA国际影视传媒檒l come out with some money, but I think if they were going to do that, they would have made the announcement the same day, right? TheySA国际影视传媒檙e not going to make a second announcement. SA国际影视传媒極h, and by the way, we came up with more money,SA国际影视传媒� right? I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to happen.SA国际影视传媒�

The future of childcare in the NWT is fragile, Davison added.

SA国际影视传媒淐ertain centers are asking themselves daily SA国际影视传媒榓re we sustainable? Can we keep our doors open? Is this worth it?SA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She also stressed how hard it is to retain staff with this current dynamic, especially when it comes to wages for workers.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking for a community comparable wage,SA国际影视传媒� said Davison. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not talking about just a living wage, because thatSA国际影视传媒檚 barely scraping by. These are people who look after our future, our children. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e gotten educated, theySA国际影视传媒檝e taken training, they have experience, and they have a huge responsibility.SA国际影视传媒�

In a press release sent by the NWT Early Childcare Association, they note that there are few benefits for working in the Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) sector, despite how essential it is to both their economy and society.

SA国际影视传媒淔or every dollar spent in early childhood, there is a savings from between $2.50 to $7 in Health, Education, and Justice,SA国际影视传媒� according to the press release. SA国际影视传媒淩esearch that factors in the economic benefit, more people in the workforce, and other economic advantages, show the savings are much higher at about $13 per dollar investment.SA国际影视传媒�

Cleveland said when it comes to wages, the GNWT is in talks with the childcare sector on what comes next, including a wage grid, a certification model, and new funding approaches to support licensed operators.

SA国际影视传媒淎 wage grid will establish a minimum hourly pay rate for these positions so that no one earns below that threshold,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t also means that years of experience and education will be recognized.SA国际影视传媒�

As for Davison, she said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 unsure what the future holds.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just really fragile right now, so ISA国际影视传媒檓 not sure. And then in the next two months, what will happen? I mean, I hear operators saying that theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to have to make some tough decisions,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Davison mentioned the GNWT is the holder of the revenue for early learning and childcare by what she called a pretty good margin.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e the ones who control the revenue for early learning and care. And so hopefully some funds will come out that will make it so programs can be sustainable,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Davison added the GNWT is still working to come up with those numbers and explain what kind of funds operators are going to have moving forward for April.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e already at the end of February and April 1 is the crunch date. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a new fiscal year for everybody. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 just very fragile right now. And nobodySA国际影视传媒檚 sure whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to happen.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Devon Tredinnick