Welcome back to a new and exciting year! There is a lot going on – with new child care legislation, as well as new proposed regulations – we will have more on that soon. In the meantime, thanks to our friends at Campaign 2000, the annual provincial budget consultation has just been announced and is fast approaching.
Anyone can apply to speak to the committee – it’s a very important way to communicate to MPP’s who sit on the budget committee.
I can help you with your deputation – if you live in the cities where there will be public hearings, please consider making a presentation to the committee – deadline is Thursday!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
May 02, 2014
CBC: Kathleen Wynne calls June 12th Ontario election
National Post: Ontario election to be called as NDP leader Andrea Horwath says she can no longer support Liberals
May 01, 2014
OCBCC Press Release: 2014 Ontario Budget
For Immediate Release
May 1, 2014
Significant child care wage increase and critical legislation hang in the balance
Child Care Advocates call on parties to pass provincial budget
Toronto – Child care advocates are calling on all provincial parties to work together, pass the budget and continue with much needed improvement for Ontario’s licensed child care system.
It is critical that planned wage increases of $2.00 over two years proceed. Child care centres have experienced high rates of turnover with staff moving to school board positions or leaving the child care sector altogether.
Early childhood educators, a profession requiring at minimum 2 years of post-secondary education have current median hourly wages of $16.21.
Wage increases are an important first step to larger investments that would ensure expansion of public and not-for-profit early learning and child care programs to benefit Ontario children and families.
“The importance of Investing in our staff is one of the most important issues facing licensed child care centres. Across the province, centres have had challenges keeping our qualified staff. It’s overdue and absolutely the right step to take”, said Sheila Olan-MacLean, of Kawartha Child Care Services and President of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care.
In addition, if the budget fails and an election is called, the Child Care Modernization Act will die. The Act proposes needed changes to child care legislation, including establishing new powers to fine and close illegal home child care operators.
“In Ontario four children have died in unlicensed home child care homes in less than a year. It is essential that the Child Care Modernization Act be adopted. We need that legislation to ensure the safety of children and to improve accountability for Ontario’s child care system”, added MacLean.
For more information, please contact:
Andrea Calver, Coordinator, OCBCC
Office cell 416-434-8031
Sheila Olan-MacLean, President, OCBCC
Office 705-749-3488 x 214
Current News: 2014 Ontario Budget
May 01, 2014
Toronto Star: Andrea Horwath might have to defeat her dream budget
May 01, 2014Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Does today’s Ontario budget reduce income inequality? Meh.
May 01, 2014
Unifor: Ontario budget deserves NDP support
2014 PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS
CONSULTATIONS PRÉBUDGÉTAIRES 2014
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will meet to conduct Pre-Budget Consultations.
The Committee intends to hold public hearings in Peterborough, Kitchener, Oakville and Toronto during the week of January 13, 2014; and in Sarnia, Thunder Bay, North Bay and Kingston during the week of January 20, 2014.
Interested people who wish to be considered to make an oral presentation to the Committee should contact the Clerk of the Committee by 12 noon on Thursday, January 9, 2014.
Those who do not wish to make an oral presentation but who wish to comment on the issue may send a written submission to the Clerk of the Committee at the address below by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2014.
Kevin Flynn, MPP Katch Koch Chair/Président Clerk/Greffier
Room 1405, Whitney Block/Bureau 1405, édifice Whitney
Queen's Park, Toronto, ON M7A 1A2
Telephone/Téléphone: (416) 325-3526
Facsimile/Télécopieur: (416) 325-3505
TTY/ATS: (416) 325-3538
E-mail/ Courriel: [email protected]
Collect calls will be accepted/Nous acceptons les appels à frais virés.
Ces renseignements sont disponibles en français sur demande.