Yellowknife (Jun 30/06) - A Yellowknife day care is a prime example of a crisis gripping the NWT says a new report from a social justice coalition.

The report is based on surveys by Alternatives North. In it, the coalition said it found day cares in Yellowknife and around the Territories need more financial support if they are to stay open.

Report highlights 67 %of day cares in NWT have waitlists of 3-100 children. Highest unmet demand is for infant spaces Parents volunteer in childcare facilities as board members and participate in fundraising. 21.5% of families are headed by lone parents (mostly women) 14% of families and 21.5% of children live with low income Childcare staff are paid low wages, and there is a very high turnover rate. 74% of child care facilities report that their revenues are inadequate to operate a quality early childhood program. Child care facilities operate in buildings that are approximately 16 years old - and some are housed in buildings that are in poor repair. Alternatives North recommendations Start-up and operating grants from the GNWT should be increased to sustain existing childcare, to create new ones, and not to be tied to daily attendance. The GNWT set yearly targets for new child care spaces. The GNWT address factors that negatively affect the Early Childhood Subsidy Program. Education and training opportunities for early childhood staff be provided at the community level with financial support to staff to attend/cover costs for workers. The GNWT further survey the need for childcare during irregular hours and in centres with a significant need, provide additional funding.

The Northern Tikes day care centre barely managed to pay its overdue rent last month - and had to do some feverish fundraising to do it.

"It's like we're on welfare trying to run a business," said Christina Korotasz, director of Northern Tykes.

"Our rent is $8,000 a month - and we couldn't pay it for two months."

This was due to several factors, including a late support payment from the territorial government.

To pay the rent, staff and parents sold chocolates.

Northern Tykes is a non-profit organization run by parents and member businesses. It has spaces for 62 children, all of which are full. It receives funding from the government, user fees and fundraising.

Korotasz said that even the budget for children's food is tight, as it costs a minimum of about $1,500 a month to feed them.

"I don't want to have to ask myself if I can afford to buy this (food for the kids)," Korotasz said.

There's little money to buy new toys or do basic repairs.

The toys are second hand and were received four years ago. The carpets are ragged and are taped to the floor with duct tape.

Repairs are only possible through fundraising. She said Northern Tykes may even have to cancel its summer day camp if it can't fundraise enough money.

According to the Alternatives North report, Northern Tykes' story is common throughout the North and that if the situation doesn't change, day cares will close.

The report has made several recommendations to the GWNT, from increased startup and operating grants and new money to help train staff.

Already, there is a high turnover of day care workers.

"Typically if a staff member does not have a wealthy partner, they will not be able to survive on the wages that they are paid," said Suzette Montreuil, co-chair of Alternatives North at a press conference July 28.

Childcare workers are paid between $11.50 an hour and $13 an hour.

"What are you going to do when day cares start closing? Who is going to take care of your children?" Korotasz asked.