Parents who send their children to Wildflower Childcare will soon be able skip packing their little ones a lunch.
After months of debate, municipal council unanimously approved a request to provide children at the local childcare centre with a daily lunch and snacks.
The issue was first brought up nearly six years ago, but only gained traction a few months ago when Kathleen Waxer, director of Community and Family Services (CFS), brought it before council.
According to Waxer, parents will have to fork out an additional $115 per month or $5.48 per day and will be not be able to opt out of the program. Parents with infants will not be required to pay.
It currently costs between $900 and $1,100 per month for full-time childcare, depending on a child鈥檚 age.
鈥淚 think the overall response will be positive,鈥� said Lisa Daniel, manager of Wildflowers Childcare, following council鈥檚 decision, Jan. 17.
She said the first meal would likely be served by April.
According to Waxer, the program will not impact the municipal budget and will operate on a cost-recovery basis.
Mayor Richard Ireland said he supported the proposal as long as it didn鈥檛 impact taxpayers.
鈥淢y support is on the basis that this is not going to cost the taxpayers and I will certainly feel at liberty to come back and review this if it turns out not to be the case, but you鈥檝e satisfied me that you can manage this without an additional hit on the taxpayer,鈥� said Ireland.
During previous discussions, several councillors also expressed concern that the extra cost could make childcare unaffordable for low-income families.
Waxer acknowledged their concerns, but said the issue was about early childhood development.
鈥淩esearch tells us that the most critical time for brain development is in the first five years and we tend to leave it to chance, assuming that all families will have the ability to meet all of their child鈥檚 needs for their optimal development,鈥� said Waxer.
She said this program will help level the playing field and ensure children have access to nutritious food. It will also save families time and allow staff more time to spend with children as opposed to spending time preparing each individual child鈥檚 meal.
She also said Jasper was one of two childcare centres in the region that doesn鈥檛 offer a healthy lunch and snacks.
Coun. Gilbert Wall, who previously voiced his unease with the program, said he would vote in favour of the proposal despite his reservations.
鈥淚 still have some concerns about the costs associated with the overall offer,鈥� said Wall, adding he鈥檚 also concerned that there is no opt-out option.
He also expressed his concern that the municipality is shouldering more and more responsibility for childrearing and the overall viability of the daycare.
鈥淚鈥檓 fully aware that the need exists and that it鈥檚 an important service that we provide for the community, but whether we鈥檙e providing that service in the best way possible is a matter of discussion.鈥�
Coun. Dwain Wacko and Coun. Vonna Arsenault were not in attendance for the meeting.
Paul Clarke
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