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The father of an 18-month-old girl who died in the care of a Calgary dayhome operator says he was “floored” to hear the woman has been granted day parole months after she was handed a 3½-year sentence for criminal negligence causing death.

Ryan McGrath said the parole board’s decision came as “such a terrible shock.” In a decision dated Jan. 16, the board granted Elmarie Simons day parole for a period of six months at a community residential facility.

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McGrath said he didn’t know Simons was scheduled to appear before the board. He called the decision an injustice and said he thinks it should be overturned, given that he and his family were not notified that the review would be taking place.

“We should have a chance to be there,” he said.

Simons’ day parole comes with conditions including avoiding any member of the victim’s family and following a treatment plan, including counselling. She is also prohibited from having any child under 12 years of age in her care, unless she is supervised by an adult approved by her parole supervisor.