Daycare Debacle Disappoints

As a resident and parent living in Cherry Valley, I was thrilled to hear that to address the lack of daycare spaces in PEC, the HUB was in discussion with the County to take over the Athol Town Hall, while ensuring the current community uses of the Hall would be not just mainained, but enhanced with facility upgrades the Hub would undertake.

I was disappointed to hear that this partnership has ceased, from what I gather is a lack of support from a few community members. 

 It is often said that the true health and heart of a community can be viewed by how it treats its most vulnerable and at times marginalized members of society. A healthy community ensures that those who may not have the good fortune of access to transportation and reliable childcare still have a sense of belonging and know that the community has not forgotten or neglected their basic needs. This innovative solution meant choosing to prioritize the basic needs of small children. It meant supporting parents and guardians and encouraging them to join the Athol community. 

Unfortunately, the Hub felt obligated to walk away from this partnership, for reasons that I completely understand, and the ones who lost are the kids, the families, and the future of the Athol town hall. Thank you to the Hub and County staff and councillors for being advocates for childcare and for trying finding a solution that had overwhelming support from the Athol community and would have worked. 

Alison Kelly, Athol

Childcare Crisis the Priority

I was extremely disappointed to read that the efforts to turn the Athol Town Hall into a new daycare location for The Hub fell apart after pushback from community members. I read the proposal with interest knowing the frustration we (and hundreds of other young parents) faced trying to find daycare in the County. 

There is a childcare crisis here. 400 families on a waitlist for The Hub is absurd — most families will never get in, so they turn to private daycare arrangements. Even then, spaces are extremely limited.  Nor are private daycares eligible for the subsidized $10/day fees. I’ve heard countless stories from local parents who have had to juggle working from home while providing childcare, who have to drive 40-60 minutes each way because it was the only daycare with space, and others who over-rely on neighbours, family, and Paw Patrol to make it all work. 

We’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to attract doctors here, yet not addressing one of the main barriers to moving to the County. Also, why wouldn’t we want to ensure our public spaces, like the Town Hall, are used to benefit the community? The reports state that Athol Town Hall is used a couple times a week at best. Does meeting space for a recreation committee outweigh the childcare crisis? Can these committees not meet outside of daycare hours, or meet at one of the countless other public or private spaces in the County? 

The project was a win-win-win for everyone involved. Like the reversal on funding Uride, I hope the public outcry urges a reconsideration. Our priority should be supporting young families. They not only make the County vibrant, they will be responsible for ensuring our community flourishes in the future.

Signed, a parent of two young girls in Wellington who will be paying $2,000/month for childcare this fall.

Erin Bury, Prince Cdward County

PEC Bon Voyage

It is well known that Picton Terminals lacks a moral and ethical center.  Its aim is to make money in ways that are known to be illegal. The company has no interest whatsoever in negotiating.  For these reasons, the County went to the courts.  Picton Terminals is knowingly harming the source of water for not just the 7000+ people on the system, but also for those in the rural areas of the County who need water for livestock and wells when the rains are insufficient.  And please don’t forget the Tyendinaga peoples.

Yet Council and the Mayor have voted to negotiate again…by ONE vote. 

Rational?  No.  The past facts expose this action as fruitless. Courageous?  No.  Trying to negotiate the illegal actions of bad actors is never beneficial.

Why? Picton Terminals has stated in the recent past that they will bring in containers regardless.  It has done just that.  The weakness of Council’s position is obvious.  Voting to negotiate again while in the process of jurisdictional litigation broadcasts the essential weakness of Council’s position…maybe even broadcasts fear.

If one looks at the last Council meeting, one Councillor was not present.  One vote may have stopped the move to settle. The secrecy behind Council’s debate also broadcasts fear.  There has been no consultation.  Democratic process is withering.

This is a “Grassy Narrows” situation in the making for your constituents.  Every aspect of life throughout the County will be affected by this decision: personal and business and agriculture and fishing and tourists.

Take a stand and you will be among the thousands who stand with you.

Barbara Dahlman, Prince Edward County