Ontario is the latest to sign a preschool agreement with the federal government
The Canadian government plans to invest heavily in an extensive system of child care across the country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford today announced the signing of an agreement that will bring affordable, inclusive and high-quality childcare to Ontario. Under this agreement, the province will receive federal funding totaling $13.2 billion CAD.
The implementation of this plan is designed for 5 years. The purpose of this agreement between Canada and Ontario is to reduce the cost of childcare in the near future, provide grants for the opening of new preschools in Ontario, and create 86,000 new licensed early learning and childcare places.
Under the agreement, licensed child care fees for children under 6 will be reduced by an average of 25% effective April 1, 2022, saving families in Ontario approximately $2,200 CAD per child per year. It is planned that by the end of the year the fee will be further reduced to 50%, which will allow them to save on average already about $6,000 CAD. The province of Ontario aims to reach the promised $10 CAD per day for preschool services by the end of March 2026.
The federal government of Canada has signed agreements with every province in the country. Since the plan began, more than half of Canada's provinces have seen childcare fee cuts.
The agreement between Canada and Ontario is expected to improve access to programs and services in early childhood education and childcare, as well as stimulate the growth of a skilled workforce in this area. The Government of Canada hopes to attract more caregivers for preschool children, including through higher salaries and more opportunities for their professional development.
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