Archive

Town Council nixes allowing daycares in townhouses, semis

October 27, 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Pickford

A majority of Orangeville Council has decided not to “keep up with the times” on Monday (Oct. 16), voting against legalizing daycares in townhouses and semi-detached homes.

The issue surrounding daycare facilities and both their availability and affordability has plagued communities across Canada for much of the past decade. Steps have been taken in recent years to help rectify the issue, but two local mothers stood before Council this week to explain that, without the several home daycare facilities currently operating illegally in Orangeville, they wouldn’t be able to find appropriate support for their children during the day.

Until recently, Rebecca Scott Rawn had absolutely no idea that the Town’s current bylaw covering daycare services in Orangeville prohibits centres from springing up in anything other than detached properties.

“As soon as I heard, I became nervous,” Ms. Rawn told Council. “Not a lot of centres in town take children under 2 1/2 years of age. I don’t know of any that take children who are 12 months. Most people want to, or need to, go back to work now at 12 months, and the only way they’re going to be able to go back to work is if they can find daycare for their kid.”

Ms. Rawn told how her daycare provider offers an excellent service while operating out of a townhouse. She warned Council that it would see a backlash from local residents if they chose not to update the bylaw.

“If more people knew about this, I know there would be a lot more people here tonight,” Ms. Rawn said. “If you decide to upkeep this tonight, I will organize for (local parents) to bring their children and drop them off at Town Hall so that you can take care of them, because a lot of people wouldn’t be able to have their children in daycare.”

Coun. Don Kidd stated he would not support a revised motion that would allow daycares to operate in townhouses, semi-detached homes or condos.

“I’m out in our arenas all the time, out watching lacrosse and hockey games and I’m always seeing young families, always speaking with young families. Not once have I had one come up to me and ask if Council could look into bring more daycare facilities to Orangeville, I have never had that happen,” Coun. Kidd said. “I do not believe there is a problem with daycare in Orangeville.”

He said that he knows daycares in direct violation of the Town’s zoning bylaw are currently in operation, but that he doesn’t understand why this is being brought out into the open when he doesn’t believe it’s an issue.

Coun. Sylvia Bradley, however, sympathized with Ms. Rawn and another mother in attendance, saying she would like Council to “keep up with the times” and legalize daycares in other property types in Orangeville.

“Affordable daycare is something that we can help our residents with. We have continuously been challenged as a council to help with affordability, whether it’s housing, recreation or other resources. This is something we can help with, I think it’s important that we do that and help these people to access affordable daycare in Orangeville,” Coun. Bradley said.

A motion to initiate the process into possibly changing the bylaw, which currently allows daycare facilities to care for up to five children in a detached dwelling, failed with Coun. Scott Wilson, Coun. Gail Campbell, Coun. Kidd and Mayor Jeremy Williams turning it down. Coun. Wilson though did come up with an idea that should see the issue back before Council again in the near future.

“I don’t think we need to use up Town staff time on this issue,” Coun. Wilson said in response to Coun. Campbell’s request for a report on daycare regulations in Ontario. “Child care is a county-level responsibility, I think we should get the experts in to give us a seminar on the ins and outs of licensing, rather than ask our staff to do a lot of research. I’m sure if we asked, the County would comply.

Council voted 5-2 in favour of reaching out to the County for more information. It is expected that a report will be brought back to Council before the end of the year.

Although the current bylaw has a provision permitting exemptions, none have thus far been granted.

Readers Comments (0)