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Ontario renews childcare agreement with federal goverment

A key move toward lowering childcare fees in Ontario to $10 a day.

Ontario is extending an agreement with the federal government on its national program until the end of March 2027.

The agreement also comes with $3.9 billion in funding.

Federal Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hadju says it also comes with additional funding for next year.

“Ontario will also receive an advanced allocation of $695 million in 2026 to help stabilize childcare fees and keep current fees at an average of $19 per day while we work on a longer agreement,” says Hadju.

There are expectations that Ontario will reach the $10 a day mark in the near future.

Ontario’s Education Minister Paul Calandra says the money will help address capacity and staffing issues that are holding back that rate.

“The certainty of the program and the dollars behind it also allows our partners to begin the process of acquiring more spaces,” says Calandra.

“On the workforce side, we have to balance new spaces with ensuring that we have the workforce to cover the new spaces.”

A recent report from Ontario’s Auditor General identified the need for at least 10,000 early childhood educators.

Some childcare providers have the space to add more children, but not the staff required.

The provincial government says there were about 41,000 new spaces that opened up as of this June.

It aims to have 86,000 new spaces by the end of December 2026.

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$10 Childcare Fees To Come September 2025

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Ten-dollar-a-day childcare is on its way for Ontario.

The province has signed off on an agreement worth $13.2 billion dollars that will result in lower fees beginning this year, reaching the federal benchmark by September 2025.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says fees will be reduced by 25 per cent, with a further 25 per cent reduction taking place in December.

Ontario is the last jurisdiction to sign the national deal.

Unlike other deals, the province was able to negotiate an extra year of funding and protection against any funding shortfalls.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says it recognizes the unique challenges in Ontario and the fact that the province has the highest childcare costs in the country.

“We have secured a deal for Ontario families that will significantly reduce child care costs for working moms and dads, and that starts today”, says Lecce. “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.”

Other components include;

  • A federal investment of $13.2 billion over six years with the province having secured more certainty around out-year funding. The deal includes an additional year of funding of at least $2.9 billion.
  • The flexibility to allocate federal funding in a way that will allow the province to deliver an average of $10 a day child care, including by spending the initial $10.2 billion over four years instead of five.
  • Enhanced protection against funding shortfalls through a mandated financial review process in year three – the first of its kind in any provincial child care deal – to reconcile the actual costs of the new national child care plan with funding.
  • Reduction of child care fees through four steps of reduction to an average of $10 a day per child five years old and younger by September 2025.
  • Parent rebates, retroactive to April 1, will begin in May.
  • Protection of all for-profit and non-profit child care spaces, helping to support predominantly female entrepreneurs across the province who provide high-quality child care services.
  • Creation of approximately 86,000 new, high-quality child care spaces for children five years old and younger.
  • Hiring new early childhood educators and support improved compensation for all Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) working in licensed child care.
  • Maintain Ontario’s child care tax credit program that supports 300,000 families with expenses in licensed and unlicensed child care.
  • Work with municipalities to enroll 5,000 licensed child care centres and home child care agencies into the program between now and September 1.

Refunds will be issued retroactive to April 1, receiving the first cheques in May.

 

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KDSB Taking Over Childcare In Ear Falls

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The Kenora District Services Board has agreed to take over childcare programming in Ear Falls.

The Township has been without the service since May when Council decided to get out of the business due to financial constraints.

KDSB Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall says programming is expected to resume in November.

Wall says they have reached an agreement with the community to operate out of the government building.

He notes they are creating a “community hub” with other child and family programs and services coming into that space.

“Our plan. We’re going to have double the amount of spaces that were there before. This is both with respect to childcare but also with respect to before and after school programs. We are really taking what we’ve heard from families in terms of what the need is and looking at a different financial model.”

The original centre had roughly 12 spaces.

Wall admits the opening of the childcare centre is a bit later then what they had hoped for.

“But just with the pandemic and trying to get everything ready with respect to working with the Ministry of Education from a licensing standpoint. With recruiting and so forth. It has delayed things some what, however, we are confident come November the programs will become operational.”

Wall stresses this is an exciting opportunity.

He notes “Come October 1. We’re going to be opening up the in-take process to start accepting applications from families for children in the program. So things are happening. They didn’t happen as fast as we had hoped but at the same time, I think we can be all be very proud of what will open.”

To hear more from Henry Wall, visit the Audio link below.

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Federal NDP Identify Gaps In Childcare And Class Sizes

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The NDP is fighting for funding at the federal level to support families in need.

Leader Jagmeet Singh says parents tell him that they can’t work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singh says people are having to make the choice between staying at home to take care of their kids and not being able to go to work because of a lack of affordable childcare.

He notes the job participation rate for women right now is the lowest its been in 30 years, erasing three decades of gains.

Singh adds more money is needed to address class sizes at all Canadian schools.

He says he believes firmly that no recovery can happen without federal help for provinces.

Singh says “parents and students are worried about the impacts of COVID-19 and we’ve got a responsibility as a society to make the right choices. So we’re calling on the federal government to invest in childcare so parents know that their kids can be safe and there’s a place for them to go.”

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Sioux Lookout Announces Reopenings

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The Municipality of Sioux Lookout continues to reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toddler and preschool programming has resumed at the Biidaaban Children’s Centre.

Service will be available between 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Families requiring childcare service are encouraged to contact Biidaaban at 737-4570.

Kids and parents will be screened at the main entrance and children will be monitored for the virus throughout the day.

Strict health standards will also be in place.

Manager of Corporate Services Brian MacKinnon says the Sioux Mountain Children’s Centre will remain closed until further notice, due to staffing limitations.

Sioux Lookout will also begin opening up facilities within the Recreation Centre in early August.

MacKinnon says you will be required to wear a mask when entering the building and must check-in at the Front Desk.

The hours of operation are expected to be 6:00am to 5:00pm, likely starting the second or third week of August (no evenings or weekends).

The current hours for the Reception Desk are 8:00am to 4:30pm and all hours will be reviewed weekly.

Brian MacKinnon stresses they are taking a gradual approach when reopening next month.

“Just to ensure that the procedures that we’ve put in place are working and are being responsive to the needs of the community. We thought that by taking the gradual approach we can sort of test each area first and make sure that their aren’t any issues that need to be addressed before opening everything all at once.”

MacKinnon says he knows people are anxious to return and he thanks everyone for their patience.

Here is what you need to know for the Sioux Lookout Recreation Centre:

-Memorial Arena: will remain closed for at least the month of August.
-Track: the walking track above the gymnasium will open in August, and providing everyone respects physical distancing, a mask will not need to be worn if walking along the track (but may be worn if the user so chooses). There will be absolutely no running. A Spin bike and two work out stations will also be available along the walking track.
-Squash Courts: will be opening during the month of August, with the following restrictions: maximum of two people permitted in the court area at any given time, court times will be in 45-minute increments, and there will be a 45-minute interval between each booking to allow sufficient time for sanitizing/disinfecting.
-Weight and Cardio Rooms: will be opening during the month of August, also. Each piece of equipment will have a perimeter around it (established by tape on the floor), masks will NOT need to be worn when within the “no mask zone” (but may be worn if the user(s) feels more comfortable) – however, masks must be worn at all other times, including going from one piece of equipment to another. Additional disinfectant and sanitizing materials will be available for the public to use.
-Gymnasium: will remain closed for the month of August, with the exception of Monday and Wednesday mornings to accommodate a maximum of 12 individuals wishing to play pickle ball.
-Change Rooms: will be available for limited use. Masks must be worn at all times in the change rooms, and showers will not be available during the month of August and possibly longer.
-Sauna: will remain closed until provincial government restrictions are lifted.
-Memberships: we understand that people haven’t been able to use their memberships for the last several months. As was stated at the outset, Memberships that were in effect from the date of closure of our facilities to the public, will be extended for the duration of the closure. Individuals with Memberships must contact the Recreation Centre during the month of August to arrange for this extension. Failure to contact the Recreation Centre to
extend your membership will negate the possibility of extension. For anyone who is currently feeling uncomfortable returning to the Recreation Centre at this time, please contact the Front Desk staff to advise of such, and your Membership will be put “on hold” for up to 60 days (note, it will not be extended longer than the period during which our facilities were closed, but we are willing to put a “freeze” on the membership for up to 60 days, after which users would be expected to return to using their Memberships, and the extension to the membership due to the earlier closure would come into effect at that time. Again, these arrangements must be made between August 14th and September 14th.

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Sol Mamakwa Calls For Information Fees To Be Removed

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The Ford government is being asked how many children have died in care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says APTN recently was asked to cough up $300 for a Freedom of Information request.

“I think the least you could do is at least wave the fee. The government has refused to complete a Freedom of Information Act request to disclose the number of children that have died and been seriously injured.”

Mamakwa adds “This information should be readily available to the public. The fact that the government makes it so difficult to access these numbers doesn’t create any trust. Why does Ontario not want us to know how the child welfare system is not protected during this pandemic?”

Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues Jill Dunlop says she can’t comment on the issue because it would be “interfering in an on-going process”.

Dunlop does say the fees are based on the amount of work that’s required on a particular file.

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Ear Falls No Longer In Childcare Business

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Ear Falls has made the difficult decision to get out of the childcare business.

The Township has dissolved its partnership with the Kenora District Services Board to provide service.

Mayor Kevin Kahoot says they realize that daycare is needed in Ear Falls but they just can’t afford to run the program.

Kahoot says last year they were in the neighbourhood of a $120,000 deficit over and above any funding they received.

Kahoot notes when you do the math taxpayers are on the hook for about $10,000 per spot and that continues to grow.

He says for the past six years they have tried approaching different levels of government and negotiating with the KDSB but they just couldn’t find a model that worked.

Kahoot says he has always believed that municipalities shouldn’t be in the childcare business, stressing it’s more of a provincial responsibility.

He’s hoping the KDSB steps forward and takes control of daycare centres like it does in Dryden.

Kahoot also delivered the following message to impacted families.

“I would suggest they call the Kenora District Services Board. They need to really emphasize that there is a need for daycare in Ear Falls and the more that they reach out to them I think will really push the buttons and get the KDSB on board.”

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Province Supporting Childcare: Lecce

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Ontario is protecting childcare spaces by helping daycares stay afloat during COVID-19.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the province is assisting child care and EarlyON Centres with operating costs, along with “direct and rapid funding delivery” for those that currently get funding.

Lecce says this is meant to support parents who are heading back to work as the province allows some stores to re-open.

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Local Child Care Centres Can Now Accept More Kids

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Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is expanding the list of essential workers eligible for free emergency childcare during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The additional frontline workers who can now access services include:

-Workers in grocery stores and pharmacies
-Truck drivers (driver’s licence Class A and Class D)
-Workers in the food supply chain, including food processing
-Workers in retirement homes
-Auxiliary workers in health care settings, including cooks and cleaning staff in hospitals and long-term care homes
-Interpreters and interveners who support people who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deaf/blind
-Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) emergency personnel
-Provincial officers and onsite staff in Ontario courts
-Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence staff working in Ontario
-Additional workers supporting public safety and correctional services

Lecce says we must do whatever it takes to assist those on the frontline and give them the relief they deserve as they work around the clock.

He stresses strict health standards will be in place and they are taking a zero tolerance approach to keep kids safe.

“No site can exceed 50 people. These centres must be thoroughly cleaned every day before opening. All staff must be screened before they enter the centre. That a plan is in place and has been supported by the local Health Authority should an outbreak occur.”

Lecce adds “Visitors are not permitted to enter the centre at all. Everyone is screened upon arrival. Everyone that has any sign or symptom is not permitted inside. Zero tolerance folks.”

The Kenora District Services Board has so far approved five centres to provide child care in Dryden, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Kenora.

They include:

New Prospect Early Learning Centre, Dryden
FIREFLY Child Care, Kenora
Kid’s Zone Lakeside, Kenora
Moozoons Child Care, Red Lake
Waninawakang Child Care Centre, Sioux Lookout

For registration information, visit http://www.kdsb.on.ca

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New Childcare Tax Credit Introduced

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If you’re a parent with children, some money could be coming your way.

Finance Minister Rod Phillips says a new tax credit called the Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses will be applied when you file your next tax return.

The credit can be applied to such things as day camps, summer camps and childcare.

Phillips says “It’s a benefit that is particularly focused on low and middle income families and for that average Ontario family, it’s going to mean about $1,250 back into the pockets of parents.”

He notes the credit could save parents up to 75% of eligible costs.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says “Institutional childcare isn’t the only option for a lot of parents in the province of Ontario. So providing that flexibility and that recognition that you as a parent know best how to raise your child, I think first and foremost is the government listening to the people we serve.”