McGuinty steps up for Ontario Kids – Announces new child care funding
Friday April 20th 2012 – Premier Dalton McGuinty made a statement with regards to child care funding. This comes after significant pressure from Ontario’s NDP that the government address the child care crisis in this year’s budget.
We have confirmed that this funding is new money and will be on top of the transitional funding announced two years ago that is “growing to $63 million” by 2015.
- $90 million in 2012-13
- $68 million in 2013-14
- $84 million in 2014-15
The consensus in the child care sector remains that $287 million per year is the amount needed to stabilize our current programs. With this new announcement, next year will see stabilization funding of about $150 million – far short of what is needed.
This new funding does not solve the child care crisis, it does not “save” all child care programs and we will continue to see closures of child care centres and reductions in numbers of spaces. However, it will go a long way towards keeping some programs open.
Credit must be given to the NDP who have asked questions on a weekly basis to keep child care on the agenda at Queen’s Park. They have also held numerous community events on the issue, and made child care a primary issue in their budget demands in the lead-up to the budget vote.
From the Premier’s announcement:
“Today I spoke with Ms. Horwath about these discussions and indicated a willingness to work together to reach an agreement.
I confirmed that we are taking action to make our budget stronger in two areas: child care and the Ontario Disability Support Program.
These steps can be taken within the government’s fiscal plan and by finding savings in less important programs.
To ensure the child care sector remains strong and can help families experience a seamless transition to full-day kindergarten, we will provide additional assistance to child care operators.
The additional funding will give new support to the child care sector and is found within the Ministry of Education’s existing budget allocation.”
To read the full statement, please click here. Pour lire la déclaration en français, cliquez ici.
For the details of the funding, please click here.
Media coverage:
Ontario budget: Liberals, NDP move closer to a deal - Toronto Star
Liberals sweeten the pot for NDP on budget vote – Toronto Sun
McGuinty acquiesces to 2 NDP demands ahead of Tuesday’s crucial budget vote – The Canadian Press
Ontario Liberals agree to NDP budget demands – CBC
McGuinty accepts NDP budget demands on child care, welfare – CP24 (includes video)
Thanks for all of the hard work to get this small but necessary increase to the transitional funding. Our centre will convert to full Day Kindergarten in 2013 and will need assitance with renovations. However, I have just heard from our city consultant that daycares in schools will not be eligible for funding assistance. While we know there is a need in the community for care of younger children, there seem to be impossible hurdles to provide this care. We’re very concerned that even long established centres like ours will find it difficult to remain sustainable.
I agree! We have been a non profit childcare centre offering quality, reliable, affordable childcare for 28 years………….we are in a school. I always thought this to be a great thing for families but now it seems we have so many hurdles just to stay in business and keep our quality staff’s jobs. Some of our staff have been with us 15 years, what will happen to them? Childcare is not as stable or cute and cuddly when other “agencies and school boards” get involved.
I really wish Premier McGuinty had thought about the small businesses that would be forced to shut their doors due to the FDK initiative. Although it is a great thought, it needed a followthrough business plan that supported all involved NOT PUT SO MUCH ADVERSITY and mistrust in our communities.
I believe it should have been an extension of the businesses that are in schools not an extinction of them by telling the school boards to make up their own rules and put stipulations on non profit childcare centres to squeeze them out of schools so they can take over.
If that had happened, stating the rooms we are using are protected and not “up for grabs” the childcare community would have fully supported the chance to be part of an amazing forward thinking project.
What do our staff do?
What do the families that have counted on our care do?
What happens to the non profit agencies?
What happens to families that cannot afford what the school boards will be charging?