Municipalities Encouraged to Support Child-care Centres

COMMUNITY SERVICES--Municipalities Encouraged to Support Child- care Centres

Municipalities are being encouraged to support children and families served by commercial child-care centres by giving the centres a tax break. Commercial child-care centres are currently charged the commercial tax rate, while non-profit child-care centres can pay a lower residential rate.

"We have been meeting with the commercial child-care representatives on this issue," said Community Services Minister David Morse. "I am joining the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations in asking municipalities to offer the lower tax rate to commercial child-care centres."

This change would support children cared for by licensed, commercial child-care centres. The commercial rate is more than twice the residential rate in some communities. The Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations has written to the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities advising that legislation could be introduced this spring that would give municipalities the option of charging the lower rate.

"We are delighted at the possibility that tax rates may soon be adjusted for commercial centers," said Heather Hansen-Dunbar, chair of the Private Licensed Administrators' Association of Nova Scotia Child Care Centres. "Private child-care programs contribute so much to Nova Scotian families, and this change would alleviate a significant tax burden on these centres."

Mr. Morse said child-care centres need support from all three levels of government. Centres now receive funding from the federal and provincial governments through the early childhood development initiative.

"Nova Scotia families depend on these centres to care for their children while they go to work and school," said Mr. Morse. "Support from all levels of government will help centres continue to provide this vital support to families."