The Ontario government has announced it will implement
full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds over the next five years,
as recommended by Early Learning Advisor Dr. Charles Pascal in his
important report to the government in June, 2009.
However, the government has not committed to stable
funding for child care programs to support the transition to full-day
learning. Premier Dalton McGuinty promised the transition funding when
he announced his government’s intention to implement full-day learning
in October, 2009.
More immediately, there is the very real threat that the
province may cut $63.5 million in funding for subsidized child care
spaces in the Ontario Budget, to be unveiled March 25.
$63.5 million has been allocated to child care services
in every provincial budget since 2006 when the federal Conservative
government refused to honour the previous Liberal government’s funding
commitment to child care.
If the McGuinty government does not include the $63.5
million in this year’s budget, municipalities will make dramatic cuts to
child care subsidies, destabilizing the entire fragile child care
system.
The ripple effect of cutting this funding would be
catastrophic. The impact has been quantified by the Centre for Spatial
Economics in a study commissioned by the Ontario Coalition for Better
Child Care:
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The disappearance of 7,600 subsidized child care
spaces for children from low-income families;
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The elimination of 1,800 child care jobs and another
1,100 jobs in the related economy;
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Another 3,480 jobs vacated as parents are forced to
leave work because they have no other child care options; and
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Growing welfare rolls as out of work parents turn to
social assistance.
To learn more, go to
http://www.childcareontario.org/
Letter from President Thomas to Premier McGuinty
President Thomas urges Premier McGuinty to maintain
$63.5 million in funding for subsidized child care spaces, to properly
fund child care centres and to support the transition to full-day
learning.
Download Letter. pdf.
Take Action
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Go to the Premier’s website
https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp?Lang=EN
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Go to the box My Message to Dalton and cut and paste
into the box the following brief message:
Dear Premier, I am asking your government to make three
commitments to child care in the March 25 budget. First, maintain the
$63.5 million for child care subsidies so families can keep working,
look for jobs, or attend community colleges and universities in order to
re-enter the workforce. Second, provide sufficient funding for child
care centres to maintain existing levels of service, recognizing cost of
living and other legitimate increases to their operating expenses.
Third, honour your commitment to provide funding to child care centres
to support the transition to full-day learning. I applaud the decision
by the government to introduce full-day learning. However, the child
care system needs stable funding to ensure the province’s goal of
creating a well-educated workforce becomes a reality.
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Complete the rest of the form and click send.
