Daycare chooses to close, not grow

A Charlottetown childcare centre operator is opting to close down rather than meet new provincial requirements and increasing her enrolment.

'It's like giving up my dream.' Margaret Younker, Small and Mighty Childcare Centre

Last month P.E.I. announced new funding for childcare centers, but to access that money operators need to follow new regulations, including a minimum enrolment of 40 children.

Margaret Younker, owner of Small and Mighty Childcare Centre, has been getting up before dawn to open her doors for seven years, but she will close the business down this fall.

"I like keeping it small, so with all the rules changing it means I'd have to have a bigger centre," said Younker.

"It's like giving up my dream, I enjoyed the kids, and loved being an early childhood educator."

Younker is already licensed for 47 children, but she said that's too many and the quality of care would suffer.

The amalgamation of centres is part of the province's plan, and the government is offering a retirement package for operators in areas they have targeted as overpopulated with daycares.

The amount of money will differ for every centre. For Younker it will be the equivalent of a year's salary.

"It does help a little bit for me to get my feet back under me and figure out what I want to do now that the dream that I wanted is not there," she said.

No package for some

While operators in Charlottetown will be able to access the package, many rural daycares won't qualify, because they stand alone in their area.

Lynn Hogan, president of the Early Learning Operators of P.E.I., said that isn't fair.

"I don't think they have the right to say because you live up west and you live in Charlottetown you can't retire yours, but you can. I just don't think that's equal opportunity," said Hogan.

Those who qualify to sell back their licence will have until July 2 to make their decision. Younker said she has heard of two other Charlottetown centres that have already decided to cash in and close down.