EXCERPTS
Ontario is supporting families in communities across the province, with new schools, additions and renovations that will create better, modern learning environments and more licensed child care spaces.
Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, and Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, were joined by Laura Albanese, MPP for York South-Weston, at Dennis Avenue Community School in Toronto today to announce funding for 39 brand new schools and 40 major renovations and additions in communities across Ontario.
These projects will also include a total of 157 new child care rooms with more than 2,700 licensed child care spaces for children aged 0-4, helping more families access safe and affordable child care closer to home.
Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
- In 2018, Ontario is investing $784 million in 79 new and renovated schools. This investment will also create more than 2,700 new licensed child care spaces for children aged 0-4.
- Ontario is providing $10.8 million to help build a new school building for Dennis Avenue Community School, and $4.5 million for a four-room addition at the nearby George Syme Community School. Each project will include five new child care rooms with space for 88 children.
- Since 2013, the government has invested $9.1 billion in capital funding to support more than 160 new schools and more than 460 additions and renovations.
- Ontario is investing up to $1.6 billion in new capital funding over five years to support the creation of 45,000 new licensed child care spaces in schools, other public spaces and communities.
Additional Resources
- Capital Investments – Improving Ontario’s Schools
- Interactive map of Ontario’s infrastructure investments in transit, hospitals, schools, roads and bridges
- Creating More Child Care Spaces
Quotes
“Ontario is committed to building learning environments that support student achievement and well-being. That’s why we continue to invest in new, renovated, and expanded schools so that every student can learn and grow in a space that enables them to reach their full potential.”
Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education
“Schools are a natural fit for licensed child care spaces. They provide families with access to safe, high-quality care in a convenient setting, and offer young children the opportunity to transition into full-day kindergarten in a familiar environment. These new spaces will give our youngest learners a strong start in life, and make a real difference in the lives of many Ontario families.”
Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care
“I’m thrilled Ontario is making an important investment for the future of York South-Weston. These high-quality school buildings will help provide local students with better learning environments, while supporting the needs of our growing community.”
Laura Albanese, MPP for York South-Weston
-reprinted from Ontario Ministry of Education