Despite signing an accord to help prop up the minority Liberal government, the NDP wasn’t pulling too many punches last week when it came to day care, one of its priority issues.

Party leader Kate White went after the government over the lack of daycare space available in parts of the Yukon.

“Mr. Speaker, this government announced and implemented an early learning and childcare funding program for families with preschool- aged children,” she said.

“This is great news for those families already receiving daycare services through a licensed provider.

“Unfortunately, too many families are not able to secure daycare due to lack of available spaces. This, of course, has been compounded by the pandemic.”

Daycares in Dawson City and in Old Crow have long wait times — in some cases, for over a year, White pointed out.

“What is this government doing to support families who are stuck on a wait-list or are unable to access affordable daycare now?” she asked.

Education Minister Jeanie McLean chose to tackle the question.

“Our government absolutely believes that all children should have access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early learning opportunities,” she said.

“We recognize that capacity is a concern, and thank you very much for the question.

“Work is ongoing to provide more integrated, collaborative programs and services to better meet the needs of Yukon families,” McLean added.

“We have made an historic investment, as was pointed out in the preamble for the question, in terms of our universal childcare program that is making childcare more affordable and providing much-needed resources for Yukon families.”

McLean noted that Whitehorse has 1,540 full-time licensed spaces, of which 1,253 are occupied.

“As of May 12, 2021, the Watson Lake childcare centre is licenced for 45 children. It currently has 30 children enroled, no wait-list, and capacity to add about 15 more children.” McLean said.

“When we get into other communities such as Dawson, as of May 12, the Little Blue Daycare had a wait-list. They currently have 20 spots with 36 children on a wait-list.”

White steamrolled through McLean’s answer without hesitation.

“Although I thank the minister for those lists, what I was looking for were solutions.

“So, not only are there long wait-lists at many daycares throughout the Yukon, but some communities are without any licensed daycares at all,” White said.

“Ross River and Pelly Crossing are two such communities. Having no licensed daycare leaves families with very few options,” the NDP leader added.

“Some will pay for unlicensed daycare, and others will be forced to remain home even though they want to go back to the workforce.

“Mr. Speaker, what is this government doing to support families and communities where no licensed daycare is available?”

McLean said, “We absolutely recognize that there is a lack of spaces for early learning childcare. We are committed to, with our overall plan around universal childcare, work to advance additional spaces and licensed facilities.

“Since April 1, 2021, one new childcare centre has opened up — in Whitehorse, mind you. I know that you are asking specifically about the communities, and it’s going to take some time working with all of our partners to ensure that we are working to provide that capacity in the community,” the minister said.

Three more centres have been licensed to expand the number of spaces, she added.

“Again, this is in Whitehorse. However, we are moving toward more options for the communities.”

White wasn’t having anything of that either.

“So, now we’ve heard about lack of licensed daycares and lack of available daycare spaces through all of our communities. We’ve also heard from parents about the lack of available daycare for parents who don’t work the traditional nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday jobs,” White said.

“Many parents are looking for daycare support so they can work shift work or weekends. Finding daycare for these families is next to impossible.

“What is this government doing to ensure more flexible daycare options for families who work shift work or on weekends?”

McLean said the government “believes that all children should have access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early learning opportunities, and we are absolutely committed to working with all of the stakeholders, Yukon First Nations, and others to enhance options for families and to find that flexibility in terms of what the needs are.

“The work is ongoing in terms of capacity concerns,” McLean said.

“We are absolutely committed, though, to realize that dream of having universal childcare for all Yukon children, which will, in many ways, advance the outcomes of education in our territory.”