$10.00 a day for childcare in Ontario; what a relief! Ontario finally delivers childcare agreement that could just work

BY PAUL JUNOR

Ontario has finally signed a childcare agreement with the federal government after months of speculation, delay, and negotiations.

Ontario, the largest province in Canada, becomes the last one to sign the child care deal that is part of a national plan to deliver an average cost of  $10 a day to every province and territory by September 2025. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement at the YMCA child care centre in Brampton. Prime Minister Trudeau states, “With the signing of today’s agreement, we’re making $10-a-day child care a reality for families across the country. Today’s announcement will save Ontario families thousands of dollars each year with fee reductions. This will create jobs, grow the middle classroom, and give our kids the best start in life.”

Premier Ford has taken some criticism for his role in the delay of the agreement given that provinces such as: Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia signed deals in 2021. Other provinces, including the Northwest Territories, signed on in December 2021.

Premier Ford stated at the press conference, “From day one, I said our government wouldn’t sign a deal that didn’t work for Ontario parents. Given how complex Ontario’s child care system is, we wanted to get this right. Today, we’re delivering a deal that will keep money in the pockets of hard-working parents.”  He states further, “This deal will immediately reduce the cost of child care in Ontario and provide refunds retroactive to April 1^st, 2022. It’s a great deal for Ontario parents and the right deal for Ontarians.”

Details of the finalized child-care deal were released in a press release from the Ontario government on Monday, March 28^th titled, “$13.2 Billion Child Care Deal with Lower Feeds for Families,” which can be seen at the website: news.ontario.ca.  Ontario Education Minister Stephen Leece stated in the press release, “We have secured a deal for Ontario families that will significantly reduce child care costs for working moms and dads, and that starts today. We were able to deliver a deal for Ontario families that includes billions in additional funding and a longer agreement that respects parents and provides financial support for families.”

Some of the highlights in the press release are:

• Reduction of childcare fees through four steps of reduction to an average of $10.00 a day per child five years and younger by September 2025
• Parent rebates, retroactive to April 1^st, will begin in May.
• Protection of all for-profit and non-profit childcare spaces, helping to support predominantly female entrepreneurs across the province who provide high-quality childcare services
• Creation of approximately 86,000 new, high-quality childcare spaces for children five years and younger
• Hiring new early childhood educators and supporting improved compensation for all Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) working in licensed childcare
• Maintain Ontario’s childcare tax credit program that supports 300,000 families with expenses in licensed and unlicensed childcare
• Work with municipalities to enrol 5,000 licensed childcare centres and home childcare agencies into the program between now and September 1^st

The investment of $13.2 billion by the federal government will be in effect for six years as well as an additional approximately $2.9 billion of funding per year. This childcare deal is without a doubt welcomed by parents of young kids. Childcare costs have been soaring across Canada for many years. This deal will bring about a 50% reduction in this year’s fees.