‘It’s really a systematic failure’: Parents, educators raise concerns over lack of childcare spaces in Stratford, Ont.

An Ontario child has been listed on a childcare waitlist since birth, but he has now outgrown the need. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk has his story.

Jason Davis and Larhya Miller registered their son Zander on the Stratford, Ont., childcare waitlist the day he was born.

“He turned four June 4, and he goes to school in September,” Davis said. “And he’s still on the waitlist.”

They said they applied for every licensed childcare program Zander was eligible for. They also looked at unlicensed home care options.

“The first one we put Zander in, he was starting to come home with unexplained bruises,” said Davis.

Zander’s parents pulled him out and Miller said the facility was later shut down by the ministry. Eventually, they found a new space with a hefty price tag.

“That spot, for four days a week, we’re looking at about $800 to $1,000 a month,” Davis said.

To help with costs and cover care needs, Miller, a student, cut back on classes at the University of Waterloo and Davis quit his job in Kitchener.

“I only work three days a week, but I work 14-hour shifts, sleep in the back of the truck, and work the next shift,” said Davis. “I don’t get to see my family three days a week, but this way here … I’m at least available.”

Zander’s family isn’t alone. According to the City of Stratford, around 855 kids are on the waitlist for the Anne Hathaway Day Care Centre alone – the only facility run by the city.

But the overall waitlist is much longer.

“The number including (Perth) County and the City of Stratford is over 3,000 (children),” said Mandy Koroniak, the city’s children’s services manager.

“It’s really a systematic failure,” said licensed child care provider Jamie-Lee Wagler.

Wagler runs a licensed half-day nursery school and has two kids of her own. She said before the $10-a-day childcare program took effect, she couldn’t afford to put her children into licensed care.

“It’s really disheartening as a parent to be working and taking care of other people’s children, then having to send your kid to unlicensed childcare and they’re not being treated they way that they would be in a licensed childcare centre,” said Wagler.

Wagler also said once the new program was introduced by the federal government, demand skyrocketed.

“They promised all these spaces but the educators aren’t treated as fairly as they should be,” she said. “The spaces aren’t opening up and the funding is lacking so much that we can’t open spaces.”

She added parents and educators need to take matters into their own hands and speak up.

“This isn’t just a family crisis,” Wagler noted. “The whole economic field relies on childcare to keep that going.”

Koroniak said the city feels parents’ pain.

“The good news is we do have spaces that are projected to open this year, including 98 spaces in the City of Stratford,” she said.

Koroniak said the increase in spaces aims to meet the province’s goal of reaching 37 per cent of access to childcare. However, she also acknowledged that means most children will still be without care.

“We don’t deserve to have to make these sacrifices, whether they’re personal or financial,” Miller said. “But unfortunately, it’s just what we have to do as parents.”

CTV News reached out to Ontario’s Ministry of Education for comment but hasn’t heard back.