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N.W.T. daycare inspection reports not available to the public

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Author: 
McMillan, Elizabeth
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
27 Jan 2015
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Parents looking to check in on how their child's daycare or day home fares during annual inspections are out of luck in the Northwest Territories, as daycare inspection reports are not made public.

Natasha McCagg sends her daughter to daycare in Yellowknife. She says if parents want to know how safe a facility is, it's up to them to try to interview providers.

"You're sending them off, trusting another adult to be that caring adult. You just want to make sure you do your research and your due diligence."

CBC News filed an Access to Information request to see five years' worth of records for facilities across the territory.

An initial estimate from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment said retrieving and copying those files would cost CBC $3,000. That request included information on the frequency of inspections.

CBC has since modified the request to ask for records since 2012, reducing the cost to about $1,700.