SPC split on childcare action plan

By Justin Sibbet - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on July 20, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDjsibbet@lethbridgeherald.com

As waitlists remain “quite high” for subsidized childcare in Lethbridge, the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee discussed a five-year action plan to reduce strain on the system in the city.

The idea of the plan, which was presented on Thursday, was to see the City of Lethbridge adopt affordable childcare solutions as parents are allegedly unable to find daily caregivers.

In a report provided to the SPC by Opportunity Lethbridge, it is noted that there is a lack of childcare options for families, which creates additional problems for the community.

“The findings from the engagement with parents, guardians, families and providers demonstrates that there’s a significant lack of childcare that meets the needs of families in Lethbridge, putting a strain on the community in general,” the report states.

If eventually passed by council, the motion would see the city spend $151,000 annually for a full-time equivalent position, plus a one-time $50,000 funding for deliberations in the 2028 to 2031 operating budget.

The report says the issues, if not addressed, will create an exodus from Lethbridge due to high costs, forcing families to think twice about their future in the city.

“The rising cost of living has meant that families need to have two incomes to afford to stay in Lethbridge. Parents who take parental leave are worried they won’t be able to return to work, forcing them to find remote positions that allow them to care for their children at home during working hours, pay exorbitant amounts for private childcare, or leave Lethbridge altogether.”

Additionally, the report says it is important for the city to increase childcare providers while also finding ways to better understand the challenges facing parents or guardians.

“The recommendations included in this plan provide a starting point for the City of Lethbridge to not only increase the number of childcare spaces in the community, but also to better understand and meet the nuances of family and provider needs related to childcare. The City of Lethbridge will need to consider how these recommendations align with overall strategic direction and which roles the city should play in the local context. Exploring these recommendations in more detail and implementing them will require additional resourcing, through both staffing and funding.”

However, the report says it is not ideal for the City to actually operate its own childcare programs.

“Some municipalities have developed and operate their own childcare programs, often addressing an unmet need within the community. While there are many benefits (and some challenges) with operating a municipal childcare program, this is not a recommended role for the city within this 5-year action plan.”

Ryan Parker, city councillor and SPC committee member, said he has concerns about hiring a new employee, because “once they’re in, they’re in.”

“I always have concerns when you add to the bureaucracy of a corporation, and especially when it’s in the mandate of the provincial government,” said Parker. “But I also understand the City of Lethbridge also has a role.”

Councillor Mark Campbell, who is also on the SPC committee, said Lethbridge needs to have more done about its childcare problems, so he would be supporting the motion.

“We’re in a crisis right now with childcare in the city,” said Campbell. “Anything we can do proactively enables this to be a greater community.”

According to the report, 620 families in Lethbridge are unable to find subsidized childcare, though that number is based on calculations from census data, meaning the true number is a mystery.

“It could be higher or lower, we really don’t know,” said John Middleton-Hope, city councillor and chair of the Safety and Social SPC.

Parker said he was willing to support some of the proposal, but he simply cannot support all of it.

“I think it’s important we don’t get ahead of ourselves on the $150,000. I know that it’s going to be in the budget, but if it’s passed by Council, it gives it almost an endorsement to budget,” said Parker. “I believe there’s a lot of things that we can achieve outside of the $150,000.”

As for Middleton-Hope, he said the proposal is just not ready yet.

“I’m not sure that this is fully vetted,” said Middleton-Hope.

However, he said he is open to the idea of supporting the motion in the future, assuming the appropriate changes are made.

“I would like to see this become much more robust by the time it comes to Council and I would be more than happy to contemplate any amendments or any additional information at that time.”

Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, the fourth Safety and Social SPC committee member, who brought the motion forward, said the lack of affordable childcare closes doors for parents and guardians in ways beyond their control.

“It’s preventing people from getting jobs,” she said. “It’s preventing people from getting out in the community, preventing people from engaging with this community and preventing people from fully being able to participate in everything that our community offers.”

The motion was defeated, with Middleton-Hope and Parker opposing it, while Schmidt-Rempel and Campbell voted to approve. However, it will still move to City Council for consideration, just as “an unsupported initiative” because of the defeat during this SPC.

The SPC meeting focused on service levels one to three as outlined in the Childcare Needs Assessment. Eventually, if passed and implemented, the action plan could see the city bring in additional, enhanced service levels with more funding.

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