TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 6, 2016) - From Windsor, to Waterloo, to Wawa, child care can't wait! Ontario parents, ECEs and social justice advocates right across the province are launching a new petition and campaign calling for a universal, quality child care system.

"It's time to get the child care system that modern families need." said Kim Gilbert, a Windsor-area Registered Early Childhood Educator who successfully petitioned against recent child care regulation proposals. "Our recent petition against the regulations told the government what we don't want - cuts to quality programs. And we won! Now we're showing them what we do want to see: a high quality, affordable child care system."

The new campaign, supported by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and CUPE Ontario, petitions the province to work towards a clear goal of developing a universal early childhood education and child care system. It also calls on the government to publicly declare Ontario's commitment to take leadership with the federal government in developing a national child care plan that adopts the principles of universality and high quality.

Angela Carter, a Waterloo Region mother who helped lead a successful campaign against closures of Regional Children's Centres, explained: "With the Trudeau government's promise of a National Early Learning and Child Care Framework, Ontario must seize the opportunity to be a leader. This is our chance to build a system that will benefit communities now and for future generations."

Chrystal Morden, Assistant Director of Wawa's Superior Children's Centre added, "From Windsor to Waterloo to Wawa, child care is a key support to children, families, communities and the economy. But we need the Premier to recognize this value and invest to create a real system with universal access to quality programs."

Carolyn Ferns of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care summed up, "Child care matters right across Ontario. Families need access to affordable child care, and the educators deserve decent work. It's time to build a system that can do both. This is our chance."

The petition is being launched to coincide with Mother's Day on Sunday May 8, and is being accompanied by a letter to all legislators calling on them to commit to a well-formulated action plan to build a real child care system.

For more information visit: www.childcareontario.org.