More schools in Ontario to benefit from new child care spaces
Toronto, Dec 13 (IBNS): Ontario is adding new child care spaces to nearly 200 schools across Ontario to give relief to parents in Toronto who are reported to be paying on an average at $1,758 a month, which is the most expensive child care option in Canada, for all age groups.
"A young middle-income family living in Toronto with an infant and a three-year-old would be faced with a monthly bill of almost $3,000 (or $36,000 a year) for regulated child care," reported Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) -- one of Canada’s leading sources of progressive policy ideas rooted in the values of social justice and environmental sustainability -- and that's "if they were able to find a space."
Toronto reportedly led the way with a median price of $1,354 for full-day care in spite of the fact that since 2012–13 a number of licensed child care spaces in Ontario increased by 32 percent.
As part of a five-year commitment, Ontario is reportedly investing $231 million across the province in 2017–18 to fund almost 500 new child care rooms at 188 schools across the province which would create 45,000 new licensed child care spaces in schools, communities and other public spaces for more than 8,400 children and their families to have high-quality licensed care in a safe, convenient setting so that more women could pursue their careers, It will also reduce the gender wage gap.
Mitzie Hunter, Ontario Minister of Education, stated that Ontario’s schools are places "where communities come together to grow and thrive."
"By integrating more licensed child care spaces into schools, we are building a stronger education system that supports students and their families from the earliest years onward,” the minister said.
Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, who was with Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, at Santa Maria Catholic School in Toronto to announce funding for 2017-18, said: "One of the biggest sources of stress young families tell me about is finding and affording quality child care. If you can’t get child care, you don’t know when you’ll be able to go back to work."
"That’s not fair, and it is up to government to step up and do something about it. That’s what our plan does and why we are moving so quickly to build new child care rooms at hundreds of schools all over Ontario.” Wynne was quoted in media.
Additionally, the province is increasing operating funding and subsidies to help more children aged 0-4 years access quality child care.
In June, Ontario released its Renewed Early Years and Child Care Policy Framework and Expansion Plan, outlining a vision for a high-quality, inclusive and affordable child care system.
“Creating more licensed child care spaces in schools is key to building an early years and child care system that is seamless and accessible for families in Ontario. These school-based spaces support young children and their families with access to affordable, high-quality care closer to home. By investing in our children's early years, we are giving them a strong start in life and building a strong future for all of us,” Indira Naidoo-Harris, Ontario's Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, told media.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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