College of the North Atlantic backs off on planned daycare fee hike

Immediate and negative reaction from parents has caused the College of the North Atlantic to back off on plans to increase fees at its daycare centre in St. John's.

• DaycareDebt: Parents are paying more than they can afford for daycare

Letters were sent to clients of thechild care centre at the Prince Philip Drive campusthis week, informing them that fees would go up in September.

A relative of one client told CBC News their billwould go from $135 a week to $215, and the reason given was that higher charges would be more in line with other daycares in the region.

Roger Hulan, media relations officer with CNA, told CBC on Friday that there has been so much feedback to the initial letter the college has decided to "revisit" the issue.

"We are getting back to parents with another letter telling them things will remain the same for the time being," he said.

Hulan said rates charged by the daycare have not increased for some time, but the college understands that the notice of an increase came very close to the start of the new school year.

The CNA runs three child care centresin Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St. John's with priority going to children of students. Government workers and the general public are accommodated, in that order, if space allows.

Fees are charged according to the age of the child, with infants paying the most and pre-schoolers the least.