Ontario Liberals promise free preschool child care in 2020
TORONTO — Parents across Ontario would be able to access free licensed care for their preschool children in two years under a $2.2-billion Liberal government plan that some critics said was a ploy to grab votes in the spring election, while others argued it didn’t go far enough.
The initiative, starting in 2020, would fund the cost of full-day, licensed child care starting once children turn two-and-a-half and continue to cover their care costs until they become eligible for full-day kindergarten.
“No more anxiety about costs … The freedom to choose when it’s time for mom or dad to go back to work. This is a big change,” Wynne said as she made the announcement at a school in Toronto. “We’re playing the long game here, folks. This is the investment in the people of this province.”
In Ontario, kids are eligible for junior kindergarten in the calendar year they turn four, and senior kindergarten the year they turn five.
The government estimates that by the time the system is fully implemented in 2023-2024, an additional 125,000 children will be able to enrol in the free daycare program. The initiative is expected to save families $17,000 a year, the Liberals said.
The government decided to have the program cater to kids two-and-a-half and older based on demand for services, Wynne said.
“It’s this age group where there’s the largest number of families who are looking for child care,” she said. “This the age group where there’s the real crunch and the bulk of people who are looking for child care, that’s why this is the age group we’re starting with.”
Ontario Liberals promise free preschool child care in 2020 - Macleans.ca
TORONTO — Parents across Ontario would be able to access free licensed care for their preschool children in two years under a $2.2-billion Liberal government plan that some critics said was a ploy to grab votes in the spring election, while others argued it didn’t go far enough.
The initiative, starting in 2020, would fund the cost of full-day, licensed child care starting once children turn two-and-a-half and continue to cover their care costs until they become eligible for full-day kindergarten.
“No more anxiety about costs … The freedom to choose when it’s time for mom or dad to go back to work. This is a big change,” Wynne said as she made the announcement at a school in Toronto. “We’re playing the long game here, folks. This is the investment in the people of this province.”
In Ontario, kids are eligible for junior kindergarten in the calendar year they turn four, and senior kindergarten the year they turn five.
The government estimates that by the time the system is fully implemented in 2023-2024, an additional 125,000 children will be able to enrol in the free daycare program. The initiative is expected to save families $17,000 a year, the Liberals said.
The government decided to have the program cater to kids two-and-a-half and older based on demand for services, Wynne said.
“It’s this age group where there’s the largest number of families who are looking for child care,” she said. “This the age group where there’s the real crunch and the bulk of people who are looking for child care, that’s why this is the age group we’re starting with.”
Ontario Liberals promise free preschool child care in 2020 - Macleans.ca
