OCBCC and partner organizations welcomed MPPs from all parties for breakfast at Queen’s Park on Oct. 25, 2017 to celebrate Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.  Members from around the province including Peterborough, Ottawa, Windsor and Thunder Bay joined with colleagues from the AECEO, Atkinson Charitable Foundation, Childcare Resource and Research Unit, Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario, Equal Pay Coalition and Ontario Campaign 2000: End Child Poverty.  An update on the 3 big ideas for modernizing child care was presented. 

While there is optimism regarding the provincial work being done on developing a workforce strategy and making recommendations for transformation to a system of high quality services that will ease the burden of high fees on parents, advocates remain vigilant in pressing for substantial public funding being directed only to the non-profit and public sector.  Our sister from the Equal Pay Coalition reminded us that developing a system of affordable child care was the # 1 recommendation of the 2016 report on addressing the gender wage gap in Ontario.  In Question Period that followed, MPP Catherine Fife (Kitchener-Waterloo) of the NDP asked Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris to investigate the lack of sufficient funding for a program in her riding.  

A Press Conference was held after Question Period.  Click here for press release: 

On this day we recognize the hard work, meaningful care and continuous learning these educators provide children every day. 

This year’s theme “WE CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE” reminds us all of the important role early childhood educators and child care workers play in building strong and supported children, families and communities.

Le thème de cette année est Nous bâtissons un avenir brillant ! Ce thème nous rappelle le rôle important que jouent les éducatrices et éducateurs des services d’apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants à l’épanouissement de nos enfants, nos familles et nos collectivités. 

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