Yukon government to reimburse parents affected by daycare closure

The Yukon government says it's going to help parents who lost moneywhen the Cheeky Monkeys daycare in Whitehorse closed this week with little notice.

Parents say they were told on Friday that the daycare was closing, and they'd have no child care starting this week. The owner told CBCthe Canada Revenue Agency hadseizedall her accountsand she cannot reimburse parents or even pay staff.

• Whitehorse daycare shuts down on 'extremely short notice'

Families who had paid the daycare facility in advance were asking for refunds.

Pat Living, a spokesperson for Yukon's Department of Health and Social Services, says the territorial government has allocated an emergency subsidy. Thedecision, she says, recognizes that many parents could not pay two daycare facilitiesat the same time.

The territorial subsidy could be worth as much as $688 for an infant attending daycare full time.

Living says that the territorial government's Child Care SubsidyProgram will also apply to any replacement care,even if the subsidy was already sent to Cheeky Monkeys for this month.

The new subsidy only applies to licenseddaycares. Itcannot be used to pay a relative or acquaintance to look after children.

Anyone with questions is encouraged tocall (867) 667-3492 to speak with someone at the Yukon government'sChild Care Services Unit.

Meantime, some parents are hoping to help the 12 staff who were unexpectedly laid off from Cheeky Monkeys.One parent, MollyKeizer, says theyhave started a collection to help thoseworkers, and say thank you.