Dear MPP Laurie Scott,

My name is Heather Roscoe, an Early Childhood Educator and mother, writing to you today with an urgent appeal regarding the critical shortage of affordable and accessible childcare in our community. This challenge is uniquely exacerbated by how Minden/Haliburton is currently grouped for childcare funding and decisions with the broader Kawartha Lakes region.

While we appreciate the efforts to expand childcare spaces under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement, the reality on the ground in Minden/Haliburton County is dire. Our county has only two licensed daycare centres (Wee Care in Haliburton and Compass Early Learning and Care in Minden), and while capable unlicensed home childcare providers admirably fill a vital gap, their rates, necessarily reflecting the rising cost of living, inflation, and other economic pressures, often remain out of reach for many families.

The devastating impacts are undeniable:

Economic Impasse & Poverty: Parents, especially those who are unemployed or low-income, are forced into an impossible choice between paying bills and securing childcare. This direct lack of access prevents them from entering or re-entering the workforce, trapping families in a cycle of poverty. Our poverty rate in Haliburton County, at 17.2%, is significantly higher than the provincial average of 12.3%, with 23% of our children living in poverty – a reality that cannot change without the foundational infrastructure of childcare.

Alarming Waitlist Growth: The demand for licensed childcare far outstrips supply. As recently reported by The Highlander, the waitlist for childcare in our region has grown from 4.2 years to a staggering six years since December 2023. This grim statistic doesn't even account for the influx of new families who have moved to our area since the pandemic, often with children already of childcare age, placing even greater strain on an already saturated system. Wee Care's administrator now advises expectant parents to put their child on a waitlist as soon as they find out they are pregnant. We cannot wait any longer; access is needed now.

Rural Neglect: While federal and provincial CWELCC initiatives aim for childcare expansion, the focus often disproportionately benefits urban centres. Smaller, rural communities like Minden/Haliburton frequently become "childcare deserts," overlooked in broad-stroke funding allocations. We urgently need a more nuanced approach that recognizes and invests directly in our specific needs.

Community Vulnerability: Having keenly felt the impact of the Minden hospital closure, our community cannot afford the continued erosion of essential services. We are deeply concerned that rising costs could force more crucial unlicensed providers to close, further diminishing an already scarce resource.

Workforce Backbone: Childcare is the backbone of our workforce. Without it, many, especially women who disproportionately bear the burden of care, face significant barriers to employment, hindering our local economic recovery and stability.

We commend the County of Haliburton's proactive steps, including the ongoing efforts to redevelop the Wee Care property on County Road 21 in Haliburton for expanded daycare, housing, and other potential uses. The County has been in talks with Haliburton Wee Care, Habitat for Humanity, and the City of Kawartha Lakes for 18 months, demonstrating their clear understanding of the need for county-owned assets in childcare expansion. While a "shovel in the ground" is still 12-18 months away, these efforts are crucial. We are also encouraged to learn that the County is seeking a delegation with the Minister of Education at the AMO conference in August to discuss ways the province can expedite the process for more daycare spaces. Now, we need the provincial government's direct financial support to accelerate these vital efforts.

Our Call to Action for the Ontario Government and for your direct support, MPP Scott:
 
Expedite Funding for County-Owned Childcare Infrastructure: We urge the Ontario government to create or expand existing funding streams specifically dedicated to assisting counties like Haliburton in acquiring, renovating, and building new properties for licensed childcare centres. This direct investment in county-owned infrastructure, particularly for projects like the Wee Care redevelopment, is crucial to rapidly expand the supply of spaces and shorten the alarming six-year waitlist.

Support Established Local Operators' Expansion: We ask for provincial funding and policy that actively supports the expansion of successful, locally owned and operated licensed childcare providers like Haliburton Wee Care. By partnering with existing, trusted organizations and their experienced staff (Ministry of Education, Registered Early Childhood Educators, and support staff), we can efficiently open more locations and bring more families into licensed care.

Prioritize Rural "Childcare Deserts": We request your strong advocacy within the provincial government to implement a childcare funding model that explicitly recognizes and prioritizes the unique and severe childcare shortages in rural ridings like Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock. This means targeted allocations that address our high poverty rates and the devastatingly long waitlists that cripple our community. We ask you to strongly support the County's delegation at the AMO conference seeking to expedite provincial processes for childcare expansion.

Childcare is the essential infrastructure that underpins our workforce and enables our community to thrive. Families in Minden/Haliburton County need immediate, tangible action to access the childcare they desperately need and deserve.

Sincerely,

Heather Roscoe