Licensed child care operators can opt-in to new funding program starting Thursday
Posted June 22, 2022 4:07 pm.
Last Updated June 23, 2022 2:41 pm.
Licensed childcare operators in Toronto can begin applying for the new Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) funding program starting Thursday.
As part of the deal announced earlier this year between the province and the federal government, all licensed child care programs in Toronto serving children under the age of six, or those turning six before June 30, can apply to participate in the program which offers fee reductions for eligible families.
In addition, all licensed child care programs may apply to access workforce compensation supports for eligible staff under the CWELCC program.
Once a child care program has opted in and has been approved, eligible families can expect child care fees to be refunded retroactive to April 1. The new CWELCC website includes details regarding the program, eligibility requirements and any upcoming information session dates for child care operators.
The plan includes a commitment to deliver an average of $10-a-day child care by September 2025.
RELATED: Daycare operators wary about opting-in to $10/day child-care program
CityNews spoke with several childcare operators earlier this month who said they were unsure about opting into the program.
Childcare operators received a 74-page document from the Ministry of Education back in April, outlining the funding rules, which many say is full of confusing language, lots of grey areas and leaves more questions than answers.
Many parents were also feeling betrayed by the promise of $10-a-day childcare.
“There are no spots anywhere. We were on a waitlist for two years and there are no spots private or otherwise right now,” Robyn Vanpee told CityNews.
The City of Toronto says more than 1,000 child-care centres and licensed home child-care agencies are eligible to apply to the program. The deadline to opt in is September 1.
