Women's council to hold virtual meeting on affordable daycare

Affordable child care in Niagara is the topic for this month’s public zoom meeting hosted by the Niagara District Council of Women.

Panelists include Satinder Klair, Niagara Region’s director of children’s services, Haley Bateman, a councillor for the Niagara Region who sits on the social services and child care committee, and Sarah Maragoudakis, YMCA early learning Director. Jennie Stevens, St. Catharines MPP, will round out the panelists' table.

Gracia Janes, past president of the Niagara District Council of Women, said that her group ran a similar forum about six years ago when the federal government started planning towards $10 per day child care. While it hasn’t yet hit the $10 threshold, the federal daycare program has cut fees dramatically in most provinces.

“It’s essential that we revisit this program,” said Janes. “I think we need to hear about how it works and what benefits there are and some of the problems facing parents.”

Janes believes that the program seems to be working for Niagara region parents, and is expecting the panelists to offer many insights to the public.

The meeting is open to the public and is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15 The zoom meeting can be accessed by joining https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86097910728?pwd=yt4bxbOGJuywlJ1ZVwrCvyMGPba7OG.1

Alternately, use meeting ID # 860 9791 0728 and passcode 369092 to access the meeting.