Daycare Accreditation (May 10, 2011)
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2007 this government removed the 80-children cap on the maximum number of children that may be accommodated in a child care facility in this province.
Now we learn that Education Learning Universe, or Edleun, the only publicly traded child care corporation in Canada, is about to construct a 2,300 square foot care house in Chestermere that will accommodate a whopping 247 children. To the minister of children: did the minister backtrack last month on the decision to make accreditation of daycares mandatory simply to facilitate this kind of warehousing of our children?
The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Children and Youth Services.
Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The member is correct. Three years ago there was a policy put in place where the cap of 80 spaces per facility was removed. That decision was made by staff, I understand, at the time based on what the child care association, members of the child care community – parents who had asked for flexibility in choice in child care found that that cap was a barrier to the development of new spaces.
I want you to know, though, as I said previously – I know you’ve mentioned accreditation here today . . .
The Speaker: The hon. member, please.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. Given the displacement of 12,000 children that the bankruptcy of Australian child care giant ABC Learning led to in 2008, can the minister assure Alberta parents that their children will not experience similar upheaval should Edleun’s profits happen to ebb next quarter?
Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, we do have nonprofit child care, and we have child care for profit. The member has mentioned a for-profit child care organization that did not succeed with their business. I go back to this. The for-profit and not-for-profit organizations follow the same rules. They’re licensed, they’re regulated, and parents can be assured that that’s in place.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. Instead of the PHD process for managing children – and that stands for piled higher and deeper – will the minister undertake to reintroduce the cap on the number of children that may be accommodated in this province’s daycare facilities?
Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, I can also tell you that 2 out of 3 of our child care organizations that have over 80 spaces in child care, which is only about 1 to 2 per cent of all the child care spaces, are actually not-for-profit organizations. They’re not-for-profit. I can also tell you that I won’t be reviewing this cap at this time, but I will follow very closely what is occurring in the Chestermere community.
Thank you.
Alberta Hansard, May 10, 2011