Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 12/01) - City day-care facilities will have to wait until February to see if there will be any new money for them in the territorial budget.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jake Ootes, who is responsible for day cares, said he wants to give more money to subsidize low-income people who need to use the service.

"I would like to get an increase in that area," Ootes told members of Yellowknife city council Monday.

"But for any funding increases it has to go through cabinet, the budget and the House in February."

Currently, the Department offers low income people between $500 and $700 a month for day care but the amount hasn't changed since 1996.

Ootes attended the meeting on a challenge from Coun. Kevin O'Reilly who reacted to the number of day cares in the city clamouring for money.

"It hasn't been changed for almost 10 years," said O'Reilly. He also asked if the government planned to index the subsidy.

Ootes wouldn't get into details, but said his department is doing everything it can to help day cares in the territory.

"The competition for money is intense," said Ootes.

Currently the territory gives day cares between a $1,200 and $1,800 start-up subsidy and a daily sum of $5 for every pre-school child, $7.50 per infant and $1.25 per child for after school care.

Day-care funding is part of a $2 million allotment for early-childhood development.