Text of the media advisory:
Without a new public investment in the 2011 Provincial budget, Ontarians can expect to see child care fees increase from 15 to 30 per cent or some programs to close.The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) are launching a provincial tour to call on the Ontario Government to make affordable child care a public priority.
In Ontario, only 20 per cent of children have access to a licensed child care space. Without subsidies like those in Manitoba and Quebec, that reduce fees to affordable levels, many Ontario parents are paying between $40 and $60 a day for each child. At this rate, child care fees can run between $10,000 and $15,000 a year and are often the second highest expense for young families.
The Provincial tour will begin in Belleville and will travel to Peterborough, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Windsor, London, Kitchener, Sudbury and Ottawa to sound the alarm that a new financial crisis threatens Ontario's early learning and child care programs.
The Belleville community forum will highlight the local importance of child care and the specific challenges facing parents in region.
Dates and locations of the tour:
- Belleville: Tuesday January 25th, Family Support Room, Ontario Early Years Centre
- Peterborough: Tuesday January 26th, James Strath Public School
- Hamilton: Tuesday February 2nd, Ray Lewis School
- Thunder Bay: Wednesday February 9th, West Thunder Community Centre
- Orillia: Wednesday February 16th, West Ridge Early Education Centre
- Windsor: Monday February 28th, CAW Community Child Care and Developmental Services Inc
- Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph: Wednesday March 2nd, Location TBD
- Sudbury: Date and Location TBD
- Ottawa: Date and Location TBD