Nearly 400 child care spaces created in Haldimand-Norfolk

New report details public and private child care numbers for 2018-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Oct. 30, 2019

QUEEN’S PARK – A new report from the Ministry of Education shows 395 licensed child care spaces were created in Haldimand-Norfolk by public and/or private sector child care providers in 2018-19.

“These additional spaces will assist parents in having more choice for child care in the riding,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.

Across Ontario, over 19,000 licensed child care spaces were created during that same time period. 

Research demonstrates a clear link between a solid foundation in children’s early years and their long-term development and success. That is why Ontario is committed to improving access to child care, giving parents more choice and making high quality programs affordable.

 “Our government is committed to making life easier for families and that means improving access to child care options,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “The creation of over 19,000 new child care spaces means that more families will be able to choose the kind of care that is best for their children so they can go to work, run a business or study to acquire new skills.”

“The creation of new child care spaces – by both the public and private sectors – is great news for the families of this province,” said Jill Dunlop, Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues. “Our government is taking an inclusive approach to helping them succeed and remains committed to providing child care options to meet the diversity of needs across Ontario.”

In 2019, Ontario announced new steps to improve access to child care options for parents. The government will commit up to $1 billion over five years to create up to 30,000 new child care spaces in schools across the province. As well, the government introduced the new Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit, which will provide approximately 300,000 families with up to 75% of their eligible child care expenses. 

QUICK FACTS

  • Ontario’s total 2019-20 budget for child care and early years is more than $2 billion.
  • In addition to the child care tax credit, the Child Care Expense Deduction provides added tax relief for eligible child care expenses.
  • The province has allocated $208 million in 2019 to help retain Registered Early Childhood Educators within Ontario’s child care system, and support access to stable, high-quality child care programs.
  • In 2018-19, Ontario received $146.3 million in federal funding under the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

LEARN MORE

Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2019

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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org