Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/05) - An independent study of NWT child care operators has been commissioned by Alternatives North.

"We thought it was a good time to step back and have a look across the NWT," said Suzette Montreuil, the co-chairperson of the social justice coalition.

Alternatives North is particularly interested in the financial situations of the daycares and what type of support they receive, said Montreuil.

She said she expects the study will find that the needs in the communities are not being met.

The study is being conducted by Lutra Assoc. of Yellowknife. A questionnaire will be sent to all licensed child care facilities in the NWT. Phone calls to provide follow-up will be made randomly. The results should be known by January, said Montreuil.

"We think it's time to raise the profile of this issue," said Todd Parsons, the president of the Union of Northern Workers. The union provided funds to support the survey.

"The union is very interested in the child care issues that affect our members daily," said Parsons.

The survey came to late to help the Rainbow Child Care and Development Centre in Fort Smith. It closed at the end of October.

"I think this kind of thing needs to be done more often," said Aimee Clark, the former daycare's president and volunteer acting director.

Clark, a member of Alternatives North, said she would be completing the survey for the closed daycare.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Charles Dent said he always welcomes advice and the results of the survey will be taken into consideration.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing the results to help decide how to use any federal funding we receive," Dent said.

The three territories remain adamant that money for the North under Ottawa's $5 billion, five-year child care and early education fund should not be per-capita based, Dent said.

Using the per-capita model the NWT would receive almost $1 million the first year and a bit more in following years.

This isn't enough to make a significant difference in all the communities with daycares, Dent said.

"There's been no sign that the federal government will change their position," he said.