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Council under pressure for day care plan [CA-ON]

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Author: 
Halpin, Pat
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Article
Publication Date: 
17 May 2004
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Parents fighting the closure of Hanover's only day-care centre want town council to step in and set up a municipal day-care program.

The Grey Hanover Children's Centre is owned and operated by Grey County, but is slated to close in July 2005 as a cost-cutting move.

There's no alternative for the 55 children who use the day care service, said parent Heather Oelschlagel. She suggested Hanover council set up a day-care centre to take over when Grey County pulls out of the business.

The county-operated day-care centre's rate is $90 per child per full day, with some parents getting provincial subsidy on that rate. Oelschlagel said the cost has doubled in a year and can't compare to the $25 per child per day cost at the municipally owned and operated day care in neighbouring Walkerton. She suggested Hanover could charge $30 a day.

Oelschlagel handed council a 400-name petition asking the town to help resolve the lack of child care.

Council was cool to the idea of taking on a new service.
Child care is among the provincial issues downloaded to the county, said Mayor Bob White.

He said the gap in day care service could be an opportunity for private enterprise. In the meantime he's counting on promises from the county that alternative care will be arranged for children who use the Grey Hanover Children's Centre.

- reprinted from the Record

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