Submission #2342

Our family’s journey with the PEI childcare system has been a long and difficult one. We put our daughter on the registry in April 2021 when we first learned we were pregnant. We did not secure a childcare spot until January 2026. After waiting nearly five years, the relief of finally having a spot was immense, but it was followed by the challenge of a 4-year-old trying to transition into a new environment.
This transition was only successful because of the pedagogical staff at our center. Because these support roles existed, our daughter’s educator was able to give her the extra emotional support and one-on-one attention she needed to feel safe and secure during those first difficult weeks. Without that extra set of hands and that specialized support, my daughter’s transition would have been much longer and much more traumatic for her and for us.
Now, we are told that these very supports are being cut. This isn’t just about “extra” staff; it is about the safety and viability of the center. Our center is already warning us that these cuts could lead to class closures.
After waiting five years for a spot, the thought of losing it because the government is withdrawing support for the people of our future is devastating. We need to be strengthening our ELCs, not stripping away the resources that make them function. Please do not cancel these vital supports