Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 27/02) - Parents, day care workers, and their management boards are mostly smiles after Education, Culture, and Employment minister Jake Ootes unveiled a 60 per cent increase to licensed day care programs in last week's territorial budget.

"We think it's wonderful," said Northern Tykes executive director, Lucy Gillard on Monday. "We've been on a high for three days. That's a lot more money."

ECE's new budget formula will boost the government's daily contribution to day cares from $7.50 for infants to $12, $8 for pre-schoolers from $5, and $2 for after schoolers from $1.25.

All told, the minister promises to increase early childhood program spending from an estimated $779,000 in 2001-2002 to $1.559 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

ECE will also be looking at establishing a board training program for day care managers.

"We are looking at it with MACA (Municipal and Community Affairs)," said Gillian Moir, the GNWT's early childhood co-ordinator. "We're looking at developing a board training program during the summer months."

Charlotte Walker, board member for the Yellowkife Day Care Association, said although she has yet to see the new budget, any new investment by the government is good news.

She added, however, that the board would like to see the issue of funding for day homes cleared up before endorsing any changes made to day care funding.

She argued that since day homes are home-based businesses, and do not have other expenses incurred by day cares, such as rent, then funding rates between the two should reflect that.

"It depends on how it's being distributed," said Walker. "Day homes shouldn't receive the same funding as a day care."