An annual study of Canadian child care fees from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) shows that, for the third year in a row, Ontario has the highest child care fees in the country – pointing to an affordability crisis for parents.
The highest fees in the country are in Toronto and eight of the most expensive cities are here in Ontario - with Kitchener, Vaughan, Markham, Ottawa, Mississauga, London and Brampton among the most expensive. In Toronto the average fees for infants are $1,649 a month, toddlers $1,375 a month, and preschoolers $1,150 a month.
“Ontario has an affordability crisis for parents. It’s a huge burden for families - like a second mortgage or rent, and higher than post-secondary tuition in many cases.” said Carolyn Ferns, Policy Coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. “This report makes it plain that fees are a growing concern and we need government leadership to build an affordable system.”
The Ontario government is currently holding public consultations on child care following their Throne Speech commitment to create 100,000 child care spaces over 5 years. But today's report makes clear that any expansion of child care spaces must also address the affordability crisis for parents.
The report, by CCPA's David Macdonald and Martha Friendly of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, highlights the fast rise of fees for child care, outpacing inflation.
"We need provincial and federal leadership on the child care file. With a willing federal partner in Ottawa, now is the time for Ontario to be taking the lead to build a quality child care system that all families can afford and trust." said Ferns.
Read the full study at: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/growing-concern
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Contact the OCBCC:
Carolyn Ferns, Public Policy Coordinator
Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
647-218-1275