Ontario lone province without $10/day child-care deal with Ottawa

Ontario is now the only province that hasn’t inked a deal with Ottawa for $10/day child care.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed an agreement with New Brunswick on Monday to reduce the province’s average cost of daycare.

“Families in places — like Moncton and Fredericton — will save around $7,500 a year on average. And, in addition, we’ll be creating around 3,400 brand new spaces,” he explained.

I am very pleased to announce that a federal-provincial childcare funding agreement has been signed – one that works for our unique childcare sector while providing substantial fee decreases as well as wage increases for childcare workers.
More detail: https://t.co/e7Cla9S7t3 pic.twitter.com/xR9Xe65pTx

— Blaine Higgs (@premierbhiggs) December 13, 2021

Trudeau also said that by this time next year, daycare fees in New Brunswick will be cut in half.

The federal government has a plan in place to spend $30 billion over the next five years to slash child-care fees in the country to $10/day.

“Bottom line is we’re going to make life more affordable.  We’re going to grow the economy by allowing more parents — particularly moms — to rejoin the workforce.  And we’re going to give kids the best possible start as they begin their schooling,” Trudeau said.

But Premier Doug Ford has stressed he wants more money for Ontario, which will be sustainable beyond the initial five-year plan.

Trudeau said his government is still waiting for the province to submit its action plan with clear numbers to back up its demands.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province remains committed to reaching a fair deal with the Trudeau government.

Officials in Canada’s two territories of Nunavut and Northwest Territories still haven’t signed an agreement, but talks are said to be in the advanced stages.