Ottawa Faces Child Care Crisis with 1,005 Kids on Waitlists

Hundreds of families in Ottawa are grappling with a significant child care shortage as the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) reports that over 1,005 children are currently on waitlists for its extended day child-care programs. The board attributes this crisis to a nationwide shortage of early childhood educators, leaving many families scrambling for alternatives as the new school year approaches.

In a recent communication to parents on the waitlist, the OCDSB’s early learning department acknowledged the challenges they face. Families have been advised to seek alternative arrangements, at least for the month of September. “We anticipate that many families will want an approximate timeline of when a space will become available,” the email stated. “As this is based on staffing recruitment, each location will vary.”

Diane Pernari, a spokesperson for the OCDSB, noted that there are currently 68 licensed programs available, with 5,280 children already offered spaces. She expressed understanding of the frustration among families, stating, “This situation creates a significant challenge for parents, and the EDP team is working to address this.”

Growing Demand and Limited Options

The demand for child care has never been greater. Parents like Kate Pollon-MacLeod, whose son is enrolled at Stephen Leacock Public School in Kanata, are feeling the pressure. Pollon-MacLeod discovered her six-year-old is 27th on a waitlist that has only 60 spots. “School ends at 2:30 p.m., so obviously there’s huge demand,” she remarked. With limited after-school programs available, she is forced to explore options that include navigating transportation challenges.

Similarly, Heather Buchanan faced disappointment when her daughter was not accepted into the Extended Day Program (EDP) at Woodroffe Avenue Public School, where the waitlist initially had over 100 children. “We thought for sure we would get in,” she said, expressing hope that a spot might open up in the fall. Buchanan has been exploring alternatives that involve drastic changes to her work schedule, highlighting the tough choices families are making.

Systemic Challenges in Child Care

The challenges facing the OCDSB are part of a broader issue affecting child care services across Canada. According to a Statistics Canada report from December 2022, wages for early childhood educators and assistants (ECEAs) are significantly lower than those for similarly educated professionals outside the sector. The report highlighted that job vacancies among ECEAs nearly doubled from 2,935 in 2017 to 7,356 in 2021.

Pernari emphasized, “As a licensed child-care provider, we are legally required to maintain specific staff-to-student ratios to ensure the safety and well-being of every child. We cannot compromise these legislative standards.” The nature of the EDP complicates matters further. Children can remain in the program from junior kindergarten through Grade 6, creating a scarcity of openings.

Parents like Meredith Charbonneau are feeling the impact of this child care crisis acutely. Charbonneau has been on the waitlist at Kanata’s W.O. Mitchell Elementary School for three years. She was previously successful in securing a spot for her oldest child but has been unable to regain access since her maternity leave. “I have never gotten back in,” she lamented, highlighting the cyclical nature of the problem.

The lack of available child care poses significant barriers for parents seeking employment. Charbonneau explained, “I can’t get a job without a subsidy, and I can’t get a subsidy without a job. It’s a vicious cycle.” She is left in a precarious situation, planning to look for work in September after maternity leave for her fourth child, all while facing uncertainty regarding child care.

The OCDSB is actively seeking solutions to the staffing crisis, including increasing wages for part-time positions over the past five years to attract more ECEs. Additionally, they are conducting ongoing recruitment efforts to bolster their workforce. In contrast, the Ottawa Catholic School Board has reported fewer challenges, with only two of its schools facing waitlists for the EDP.

Caroline Bachynski, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Catholic School Board, stated, “Once there is sufficient registration at these locations, we will be able to open additional EDP classes and hire the required Early Childhood Educators.”

As the situation unfolds, parents express empathy for ECEs, acknowledging the systemic issues they face. Pollon-MacLeod remarked, “It’s a well-known fact they’re severely underpaid and the hours are terrible. It’s hard on their families, too.”

With the school year just around the corner, the pressure on families and child care providers is expected to intensify. The challenges posed by public service return-to-office mandates could further exacerbate the situation, leaving many to wonder how quickly a resolution can be found.