Excerpts
The federal government’s offer to Ontario would include $2.9 billion in funding for 2026 to 2027, and a three per cent escalator starting after that to grow the system.
“The CWELCC system has been critical to greatly increasing access to affordable child care for many families,” said Mandy Koroniak, the director of the children’s early years division of Wellington County.
“The positive impact on individual families and the broader economy will continue for many years to come.”
However, she noted there is still “much work to be done.”
“Even if the province’s goal of 37 per cent access to licensed child care is reached by the end of 2026, 63 per cent will still be in need of access to high quality, affordable licensed child care.”
Staffing remains a challenge locally too, as well as across the province.
...
“The workforce must increase in tandem with increasing spaces. Continuing to improve compensation, benefits, and recognition of the profession are crucial to this work,” Koroniak said.
“Continued growth of the licensed child care system and its workforce are needed to benefit all families.”