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Like many parents across the city, Tim Books scrambled to find emergency childcare for the two days next week when teachers are expected to strike.

His six-year-old son Sam already attends the “extended day” childcare before and after school at Summerside Public School in Orléans. That program remains open on strike days but does not expand its hours to include the school day.

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“It’s absolutely insane,” says Brooks. “Many parents that I have seen during drop off times expressed the exact same frustration, as now we have to pay twice, or still pay for the (extended-day) service while being forced to take the day off work.”

It’s just one example of how parents are navigating the maze of camps and daycares that may be available to take care of the kids when schools are closed. Education unions are staging rotating strikes to put pressure on the provincial government in contract negotiations.

Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News

Unless there is a breakthrough in bargaining set to resume Monday, Catholic schools will be closed Tuesday during a province-wide teachers’ strike.