Supports for parents needed as numerous schools close due to COVID-19 spread

HALIFAX -- As Nova Scotia implements circuit-breaker restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, families need more support to deal with school closures.

“Today’s announcement means that many families are scrambling to deal with children being at home for the next two weeks,” said NDP Education spokesperson and Dartmouth South MLA Claudia Chender. “While enhanced restrictions are an important part of our COVID-19 response, we are calling for immediate measures to address the impact these restrictions have on working parents, especially women. Many essential workers are also parents and we need to provide child care support for them when schools are closed.”

In the recent session of the legislature, the NDP Caucus tabled the COVID-19 Child Care Costs Act to create a plan for how parents will be supported when schools need to close. This would provide financial support to help families manage the additional costs of child care when school closures last longer than one week.

“Our province’s response needs to include support for the families, parents, and workers who will still need to go to work tomorrow. Child care supports for parents and access to paid sick days will help keep everybody safe,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill.

The NDP also tabled legislation to create 10 paid sick days for all workers and is calling on the government to create paid leave for people to get their vaccines.

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