Nova Scotia pushes for flexible child-care solutions for shift-working parents
Parents in Nova Scotia who work irregular hours are struggling to find suitable child-care, prompting unions and the government to explore extended-hour and on-site options.
Finding reliable child-care in Nova Scotia is a major hurdle for parents with non-standard work schedules, a problem highlighted by nurse Allie Feltmate, who recently requested a scheduling accommodation to match her home-daycare’s 8 a.m. opening. Single mother Jessica Arenburg-Crouse, a cook at Annapolis Community Health Centre, can only pick up two shifts weekly because existing programs don’t fit her hours. Since a 2021 agreement to expand daycare capacity, the province has piloted an overnight and extended-hour service at Health Park Early Learning Centre in Sydney, targeting health-care staff.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development says the project remains a demonstration and is being evaluated for broader policy use, while also looking at home-based options. Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union leader Janet Hazelton calls for innovative approaches, citing recent worker housing initiatives and suggesting daycares be located within hospitals or long-term-care facilities to retain staff. Both Feltmate and Arenburg-Crouse say such measures would greatly ease their daily challenges.
Why it matters
Inadequate child-care for shift workers threatens staffing levels in Nova Scotia’s health system and broader economy.
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