Child Care Crisis in Ward 8- Get Involved

Dear Parents and Caregivers,Over the last couple of months, pressure from parents and caregivers such as you has created a positive impact on the child care spectrum. The Provincial government has decided to invest funding to support the implementation and transition costs associated with full-day kindergarten.Specifically, the province will provide one time funding to for all child care providers across the province in the amounts of $90 million in 2012-2013; $68 million in 2013-2014; and $84million in 2014-2015. The provincial funding will total $242 million over three years.On June 27^th, 2012 the Minister of Education released a discussion paper which focuses on a new child care funding formula and service provision guidelines to improve quality which highlights the shift in care for younger children and the Province's new focus on school-based older children. Although the discussion paper is consistent with the recommendations made by Children's Services (supported by City Council), and represents a positive step in the right direction, it still does not state how the money provided will effect child care.(Read More www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/Modernizing_Child_Care.pdf)On Thursday, July 5^th, 2012 the Mayor's Task Force on Child Care released a report. The release included a list of recommendations agreed upon by the members of the task force.We will continue to follow this issue very closely, because it is so important to so many families in Ward 8.In the meantime, visit www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/Modernizing_Child_Care.pdf until September, 24th, 2012 and provide feedback on the Discussion Paper.You can also view all of the previous Council reports with respect to this issue at www.toronto.ca/children/reports.htm To follow this issue more closely visit:http://www.childcarematterstome.ca/http://childcaretoronto.org/http://www.childcareontario.org/Sincerely,Anthony PerruzzaCity of Toronto CouncillorYork West – Ward 8