National Daycare Program Spaces Fail to Materialize Due to Workforce Shortages

A national day care program has created a limited number of the promised 276,000 spaces under Ottawa’s $30 billion subsidy, according to documents from the Department of Social Development. The day care system has had thousands of job openings pop up in the past three years due to roughly 15,000 workers leaving for higher-paying jobs, a recently published department briefing note first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter has revealed. “Low pay in the sector is one of the most critical factors contributing to workforce shortages,” the note reads. “Other challenges to recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce include lack of benefits, poor working conditions, and lack of recognition and respect for the profession.”...