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Day-care leaders try to get meeting with province [CA-NS]

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Author: 
MacDonald, Andrea
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Publication Date: 
5 Mar 2004
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Metro day cares say their attempts to corral Community Services Minister David Morse are getting nowhere.

The Coalition of Non-Profit Directors of Nova Scotia wants an emergency meeting to discuss the closings of two centres. Members say more than 100 families are now without affordable child care.

On Wednesday, the Riverview Children's Centre in Spryfield closed after running out of cash. The Woodside Child Care Centre in Dartmouth closed last week for the same reason. The coalition represents more than 40 licensed non-profit day cares.

Coalition member Valerie Blaauw says the last funding increase to non-profit day cares was in 1998. As a result, to meet operating expenses, they've had to pass on the cost to parents.

I think it's quite shocking when two non-profit centres close within a few days, and it all has to do with finances, Blaauw said.

Community Services Department spokeswoman Cathy MacIsaac said someone from her department will certainly meet with Blaauw's group to discuss its concerns.

MacIsaac also said $2.2 million in federal funding earmarked for child care will be used for that purpose, contrary to the group's claims.

- reprinted from Halifax Daily News

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