TIMMINS — The Ontario government is expanding licensed child care spaces in the District of Cochrane by investing $7.9 million in 2023 to support the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. This support delivers a significant reduction of child care fees for families by 50 per cent on average, saving families an annual average of $6,000 to $10,000 per child.
An additional 189 licensed child care spaces enrolled in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system in Ontario will be created in the area by 2026. These new spaces for children aged zero to five will represent an 11.7 per cent increase of child care spaces available in the community – increasing access to more families across the district.
During @Sflecce’s tour of #Timmins today, we stopped at the YMCA. Minister @Sflecce and I announced that our government is investing $7.9 million to deliver 189 child care spaces in #Cochane. This will help parents in Timmins access more affordable and modern child care services. pic.twitter.com/ALlgDO99D3
— George Pirie (@GeorgePirieMPP) October 10, 2023
“We are delivering savings directly to families while increasing access to child care spaces for families across the District of Cochrane,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “Our government believes that child care should not be the cost of a mortgage payment, which is why we have already reduced child care fees by 50 per cent on average and continue to deliver on our commitment to build new child care spaces in areas that need them most.”
These new spaces are on top of the 1,598 spaces enrolled in the CWELCC system in the District of Cochrane last year.
“For too long, families have faced long waitlists, a lack of child care options and high monthly child care fees. We know that offering better access to quality early learning and child care supports the health and well-being of so many children, parents, families, and communities across Canada,” added Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “By working together, we are delivering on our common vision for a high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system.”
Ontario remains committed to the success of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system and will continue to work with municipalities and the sector to ensure affordable child care is available in communities where it is needed most.
Quick Facts
- As of June 2023, 92 per cent of Ontario’s licensed child care spaces for ages 0-5 were enrolled in the Canada-wide ELCC system, meaning at these facilities across the province, families with children under the age of six are already seeing fee reductions of 50 per cent on average compared to 2020 levels.
- As of September 29, 2023, a new regulation came into effect that will allow families eligible for fee subsidy to apply for child care outside of their city’s boundaries. This will provide more choices for families, including giving them better access to child care that matches their religious beliefs, cultural background, linguistic needs, or is closer to their workplace.
- There are more than 5,500 licensed child care centres, 145 licensed home child care agencies, and around 473,000 licensed spaces in Ontario.
- Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested over $2.2 billion in capital projects within the education sector, including nearly 6,500 new, licensed child care spaces within schools. For 2022-23, the Ontario government has invested more than $57 million to create 1,502 school-based licensed child care spaces for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
- In March 2022, Ontario secured a five-year, $10.2 billion agreement with the federal government which will lower fees for families to an average of $10 a day. Ontario aims to reach that target by September 2025. In December 2022, as part of that agreement, Ontario announced a targeted plan to create thousands of new licensed child care spaces, with a focus on increasing access to Ontario families.
- The Ontario government has streamlined the application process for new child care operators when they apply for a licence. They will learn about their eligibility for CWELCC child care funding before investing heavily in becoming licensed. The applicants will also have to submit key municipal approvals, including zoning and permitted use, together with their application.
Quotes
“This investment in our community will help the hard-working parents in Timmins and across the region access affordable and modern child care services. Our government’s multi-million-dollar investment in these services is just one of the many ways we support children in our community, making Timmins one of the best places to live, work and raise a family.”
– George Pirie
Minister of Mines and MPP for Timmins
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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