Ear Falls has made the difficult decision to get out of the childcare business.
The Township has dissolved its partnership with the Kenora District Services Board to provide service.
Mayor Kevin Kahoot says they realize that daycare is needed in Ear Falls but they just can’t afford to run the program.
Kahoot says last year they were in the neighbourhood of a $120,000 deficit over and above any funding they received.
Kahoot notes when you do the math taxpayers are on the hook for about $10,000 per spot and that continues to grow.
He says for the past six years they have tried approaching different levels of government and negotiating with the KDSB but they just couldn’t find a model that worked.
Kahoot says he has always believed that municipalities shouldn’t be in the childcare business, stressing it’s more of a provincial responsibility.
He’s hoping the KDSB steps forward and takes control of daycare centres like it does in Dryden.
Kahoot also delivered the following message to impacted families.
“I would suggest they call the Kenora District Services Board. They need to really emphasize that there is a need for daycare in Ear Falls and the more that they reach out to them I think will really push the buttons and get the KDSB on board.”
