Child Care and Early Learning: Essential for COVID-19 Recovery

Municipal Implications

AMO is pleased that the federal and provincial governments have a struck a child care deal valued at $13.2 billion over six years. The new plan will lower child care costs and make other improvements to Ontario’s child care and early years system. Municipal governments and District Social Service Administration Boards (DSSABs) will play a key role in implementing the plan in communities.

Highlights include:

• Fees will be reduced starting in 2022 and, by September 2025, the average cost of child care will be $10-per-day.
• 86,000 new, high-quality child-care spaces will be created.
• Improved compensation for all Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs).
• Reforms to support the needs of diverse and underserved populations.

AMO looks forward to working with the provincial government on the successful implementation of child care and early years programming in Ontario.

Background

Child care and early years programs play a key role in Ontario’s economic and social recovery from COVID-19. These services are critical to supporting parents’ participation in the workforce, improving educational outcomes for children, and contributing to the social and economic development for children, their families, and communities.  

Municipalities are crucial partners delivering human services in Ontario, including child care and early years programming. In Ontario, the costs of child care programs are shared by the provincial and municipal governments. Municipal governments and District Social Service Administration Boards play significant roles in funding, planning, managing, and in some cases, directly delivering child care programs.