News & Stories: Ontario

Excerpt: "Since 2004, the government has doubled child care funding to more than $1 billion annually. In 2013‒14, an estimated 447,472 children benefited from Ontario’s child care investments. In 2015, the Province is allocating an additional $44.5 million in child care funding through the funding formula, which will help stabilize fees, improve the reliability of child care, and better meet the needs of child care operators and parents — protecting the gains made through previously announced investments. As part of the Province’s commitment to increase child care spaces, Ontario is investing $120 million over three years in capital funding to create thousands more child care spaces in schools. This investment is another important step towards achieving the full vision of a seamless and integrated early years system in Ontario. It also represents an important component of the government’s commitment to community hubs."

Excerpt: "Over the next three years, $120 million in new funding will be dedicated to building safe, high quality, licensed child care spaces in schools across the province where there is significant demand. Schools boards in Ontario can apply now to the Ministry of Education for funding."

Excerpt: "The OCB provides direct financial support to low- to moderate-income families with children under the age of 18. Starting July 1, 2015, the OCB, which supports about one million children in Ontario, will be increased to a maximum of $1,336 per child, per year."

Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, comes into effect.

Excerpt: "This report summarizes what the Premier’s Community Hubs Framework Advisory Group heard when they met with community members, stakeholders and other government ministries to learn how the government can deliver public services through local, community hubs."

Excerpt: "The grants help parents identify and respond to important issues in their school community, including bullying, student nutrition, literacy and math. The grants also support parents to overcome barriers they may face to participate in their children's education, such as language and transportation."

Excerpt: "We are shaped by the quality of our childhood. Parents understand this intuitively, and try to give their children the best possible experiences. We act on this belief as a society, too, investing in public education, health care, community infrastructure and other supports to ensure that children get the best start in life."

Excerpt: "Over the coming year, Ontario will begin construction on 766 more licensed child care spaces in local schools across the province to improve access to safe, high quality child care."

Excerpt: "Ontario is investing $498 million in new and renovated schools as well as new child care spaces to provide students with better places to learn while also giving families more options for quality licensed child care that is close to home."

Excerpt: "Ontario is providing a $1 per hour wage increase for eligible child care workers who qualify in the licensed child care sector, bringing the total wage increase up to $2 per hour, plus benefits. The province is also providing an additional $10 per day increase to home child care providers who qualify, bringing the total increase up to $20 per day. Both increases are effective January 2016."

Excerpt: "The ministry is now consulting on Phase 2 regulations to continue to support the government's vision for child care modernization and its commitment to have in place before and after school programs for children age 6-12 years in publicly-funded schools."

Excerpt: "Ontario is delivering on its commitment to make access to child and family programs easier by announcing the launch of Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres. These hubs will offer parents and their children a suite of high-quality early years programs, as well as local services tailored to their communities."