Daycare gets $435 million boost

Ontario to receive $435 million from federal government for child care spaces, programming and training

Thestar.com
June 16, 2017
By Kristin Rushowy

Ontario will receive $435 million in federal funding over three years to create 11,200 new child-care spaces, support early years programs and provide training for staff.

The new spaces will be on top of the 100,000 spots to open over the next five years that have already been promised by the Ontario government.

“Our partnership with the Government of Canada helps us build a strong, affordable, quality early years and child-care system for all Ontario families,” said Indira Naidoo-Harris, the Ontario minister responsible for the early years.

“When our children have the best possible start in life, we all benefit. This is an investment in our future.”

At the start of the week, the federal government announced it had worked out three-year child-care deals worth a total $1.2 billion with all provinces and territories, save for British Columbia and Quebec.

“Research shows that there are positive relationships between quality early learning and child care, parental labour market participation and child development outcomes. This is particularly true for vulnerable children,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, the federal minister of families, children and social development.

Of the $435 million, $300 million will be given to municipalities to create licensed child-care spaces, boost subsidies for low-income families, or for building renovations and retrofits. It’s meant to be a flexible fund so municipalities can best address the needs in their communities, said a spokesperson for Naidoo-Harris.

Almost $120 million will go to Ontario’s Early Years Centres for programming and also to create new locations. The remaining $15 million will be used for professional development for early childhood educators and also to help those seeking ECE credentials to return to school.