Council for the RM of Ritchot is moving ahead with a $1 million loan to a daycare centre in St. Adolphe, but the decision was not unanimous. Mayor Chris Ewen says the daycare plans to renovate the former Brodeur Brothers GM dealership into a 113-space daycare centre at a cost of about $1.7 million. He notes the province has agreed to contribute approximately $560,000, plus the RM plans to use $140,000 from its Hydro CDI fund. The daycare then asked to borrow $1 million from the municipality and pay it back over 20 years.

Ewen says council last week voted 3-2 in favour of the loan with himself and and ward 3 councillor Curtis Claydon opposed. He explains the daycare is much needed but he doesn't feel the municipality should be the one to issue the loan.

"I believe, personally, that the municipality's mandate is not to be involved with socio-economic opportunities like daycares, that's more of a provincial responsibility. Having said that though, it's gone through now, Second Reading, and once something has been read by council and approved, then I support the decision fully."

Ewen adds he and Claydon were conflicted in voting against the loan because the daycare centre is so needed in St. Adolphe.

"The ones that voted against this borrowing bylaw were not voting against the daycare because, absolutely, it's so needed in St. Adolphe. We want people to feel comfortable that they can have their children stay close to home when they are off to work. But having said that, we were really just concerned with the style of borrowing that would be taking place and it (the money) coming from a municipality."

Ewen says council then gave Third Reading this week to the bylaw, by that same 3-2 count, meaning the loan is now official.

Artist's sketch showing backyard play area.