"Four of the municipal centres are more than half empty, according to a council report."

"The city has tried to boost enrolment by recruiting families and extending hours. They've tried to save money by contracting out caretaking, reducing support staff, sharing resources and ordering food and materials in bulk."

"But in the last three years all the centres [in Windsor, Tecumseh and Amherstburg] have suffered declining enrolment, some speculate because of the poor economy. Fewer people are working, so fewer need child care."

"The 101-day municipal strike hit the city child care centres hard. There were 513 kids in the centres before the strike, 425 after. Many families found alternate care and didn't come back. Now, Ontario is phasing in full-day kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds starting in September."