Construction is underway on a new child-care centre in Halifax designed to support kids with disabilities and complex medical needs, but the project may not proceed as planned after the province denied additional funding requests. 

The YWCA Halifax is in the process of renovating an 11,000-square-foot building in Bayers Lake, which the organization intends to turn into its first fully accessible and inclusive daycare, slated to open in 2027.

The group has received $2.9 million in funding from the provincial Department of Education under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

But requests for an additional $900,000 from the Department of Health and Wellness and $500,000 from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development were recently denied, according to YWCA Halifax executive director Miia Suokonautio. 

Suokonautio said this money is needed to staff nurses, physical therapists, speech pathologists, resource co-ordinators and other professionals who are equipped to work with kids with complex needs. 

“My sense is that even if inclusion is a stated priority, it’s not in this manner,” said Suokonautio.

“If we create a system that excludes children who require additional supports in order to participate, then the burden is on us to rectify that.” 

Suokonautio said the project, called the Cornerstone Early Learning and Child Care Centre, was initially approved by the Department of Education to accommodate 114 children, 25 to 30 per cent of whom would have disabilities. 

Along with specialized staff, the building is being renovated with accessibility top of mind. It now has push doors, widened hallways, large hoists for diaper changing or cleaning, and extra storage for equipment and medical gear. 

She said the Education Department approved money for capital improvements and standard operating funds, but without additional funding from the other government departments, Cornerstone will just have to be a standard daycare facility.

Neither the Department of Health nor the Department of Opportunities and Social Development provided a concrete reason as to why the funding was denied, said Suokonautio, who also acknowledged the difficult financial situation the province is facing. 

In a statement to CBC News, the departments said the government supports the principles of community-based care and inclusion for children with disabilities and complex medical needs.

They said once the centre is complete, YWCA Cornerstone will be eligible for annual funding that supports fee reductions for families; wages, pensions, and benefits for early childhood educators; and other operating expenses.

“While we wish we could do more, additional operating funding is not available,” the departments said in an email, adding they will meet with the YWCA Cornerstone to “better understand their needs, concerns and to discuss how available existing resources can support their vision.”

Filling a gap 

CBC News has previously reported on a lack of inclusive child-care spaces in Nova Scotia. 

In March 2024, one of the province’s few inclusive and accessible daycare facilities had more than 500 families on its waitlist. 

Some parents have reported being asked to remove their children from a centre because they did not have the resources or staff to support their disabilities. 

Suokonautio said this is the gap the Cornerstone project hopes to fill. 

The provincial departments have agreed to arrange a meeting with the YWCA in the near future to discuss a path forward, according to Suokonautio.  She said the meeting has not yet been scheduled. 

She’s also met with a private investor about potential funding opportunities.

“We see this as a real equity issue,” she said. “This is a bit of a detour, but I’m hopeful that we can still find a way forward.”

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