Ontario Opening 35 New Licensed Child Care Rooms Across Province
Province Investing Over $23 Million in New Child Care Spaces
Ontario is investing more than $23 million to build 35 new licensed child care rooms across the province, delivering on its commitment to build safe, high-quality, licensed child care spaces for Ontario families.
Indira Naidoo-Harris, Associate Minister of Education (Early Years and Child Care), was in Toronto this morning to make the announcement at Davisville Junior Public School, which will receive five new child care rooms and 62 licensed spaces. In total, this investment will support 610 new spaces opening across the province in the next two years in areas where there is significant demand. Included in this investment are 19 additional rooms to support child and family support programs.
Ontario’s ban on child care wait list fees also takes effect today. The ban prevents licensed child care centres and home child care agencies from charging fees or requiring deposits to join child care wait lists.
Together, these two initiatives will improve the accessibility of child care and make life easier for families. They also give more children the opportunity to transition from child care into full-day kindergarten in the same school, making for an easier adjustment.
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history – about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 475 projects that are helping to keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Investing in the construction of new child care facilities is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
Canadian Club – Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy
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