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Why some Island parents want more oversight of unlicensed home daycares

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'There has to be accountability... People have their back against the wall'
Author: 
Bruce, Steve
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
26 Jan 2024
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Excerpt

Some Island parents are pushing for more regulation and oversight of unlicensed home daycares on P.E.I.  

With 2,000 families on the waitlist to get into a licensed centre, many are relying on unlicensed home operators to care for their children. 

But beyond limits on how many children can be in the home, there are no rules those operators are required to follow. They're also not inspected or monitored in any way by P.E.I.'s Department of Education and Early Years — unless it receives a complaint. 

"There has to be accountability to at least somebody," said Margaret Bond, who has been trying to help her teenage daughter find childcare for her baby. "It's a very, very important role these people play in our young children's lives. And you don't just leave your child with anybody…

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