Over the past year and half, the importance of safe, accessible, and quality childcare has become abundantly clear.  Closures, and the resulting isolation, have highlighted that many families rely on quality childcare to ensure their children’s safety and continued development and to ensure that parents can remain employed.  As we move toward recovery, having access to childcare will be a key factor in terms of whether people, and in particular women, are able to return to work and be part of our economic recovery. 

However, in the Town and County of Antigonish, access to after-school care is becoming more and more limited.  With two major after school childcare programs recently closed, those remaining have a waitlist of two to three years.  An informal survey of childcare centres in the town shows there are upwards of 100 children on waitlists.  As a result, parents are being forced to find a spot for their children in private home-based daycares that are already stretched and over-crowded, to send their young children home to care for themselves, or to leave the workforce altogether. 

The Town of Antigonish is a hub where people who are new to the area or who require other services and supports are often based.  We are not able to attract and retain newcomers to our community (including doctors other needed health professionals) if there is not adequate childcare, nor are we able to equitably support access to childcare for all families if they are not able to access subsidies not available when children are in private care. 

We are asking that you seriously consider the implementation of a before and after-school childcare program in the Town of Antigonish.  Other regions of the SRCE have had great success with the Before and After-School Program (BAP).  In Antigonish, the infrastructure already exists for this program.  Pre-primary classrooms are equipped for after-school play.  School playgrounds provide a safe and engaging environment for children to find fresh air and physical exercise.  Existing Early Childhood Educators know the environment and some have already said that they are willing to staff after school programs to extend their work day.  Families who use the program would be able to access subsidies to make afterschool childcare accessible and affordable.   

This is an urgent request.  We hope you will consider it immediately and take action to ensure safe, accessible, quality after-school childcare for our children in the Antigonish community.