Daycare operators have until the provincial deadline of Sept. 1 to confirm their intentions to participate in the $10-a-day childcare program.
Once approved, the carrier has 60 days to refund families 25 percent of fees paid backdated to April 1 for eligible children.
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Of the roughly 900 for-profit operators who are members of the Ontario Association of Independent Child Care Centers (OAICC), “not one” has said they’ve opted in so far.
“Some have already given up. Most are waiting to see what resolution can be reached with the province,” said Maggie Moser, director of the OAICC.
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Moser said her members would be compromising their business if they committed to reducing fees without a contract detailing the funding.
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“Without a contract, you’re being asked to sign a blank check … We’ve been told nothing will be available for 2023,” she said.
Moser called the program’s launch a “mess.”
“It’s chaos. It’s disorganized. There is information from across the province that varies… We are unable to jump in at this time with the information we have. That would effectively force us into bankruptcy, so we can’t do that,” she said.
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More than 200 child care centers have submitted applications to the City of Toronto to participate in the Canadian Early Learning and Child Care System (CWELCC), while nine centers have confirmed their intention to opt out for 2022.
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Shanlee McNamee, general manager of the City of Toronto Children’s Services, told Global News, “the city is pleased with the current pace of applications.”
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Aurelia Engstrom of East York is a mother of two. Her youngest will start childcare in 2023, when she hopes it will cost her just $10 a day, compared to what she currently pays for her older daughter.
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“This is something we’ve needed for so long to help women who are primarily caregivers get back into the workforce. I think especially at a time where during the pandemic we’ve seen most of the burden fall on the primary caregivers and the mothers they have to look after to take care of their children,” she said.
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Engstrom recalled considering moving to Quebec, where day care is subsidized and costs significantly less than in Ontario.
“I am optimistic that it will eventually be introduced. I’m a little worried that we’re going to see some kind of backsliding from our government… I’m worried that we’re going to see something like $4 billion disappear—like pandemic funds conveniently disappeared. I’m worried about everything that’s going on. I don’t have a lot of faith in our provincial government,” Engstrom said.
Ontario’s child care agreement with the federal government is structured in a way that makes municipalities responsible for enrollment and distribution of funds.
When Emmeline, now four months old, finally starts to look, her big sister will start school.
“We’re hoping that eventually we’ll see that 25 percent reduction, which will make a big difference,” Engstrom said.
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