BGC Canada applauds the Ontario government’s recent commitment to creating a province-wide early learning and child care program. The $13.2 billion dollar investment, provided through an agreement with the federal government, will ensure lower costs and increased access to quality child care options for Ontario children and their families.
The six-year agreement will create 86,000 new, high-quality child care spaces, improve compensation for those working in licensed child care, and support the recruitment of new early child care educators as demand is expected to grow. Quality, affordable child care contributes to strong families and strong communities and gives children more opportunities to thrive. BGC Canada continues to urge governments to provide affordable child care and recreation options for all youth.
As the largest child and youth serving organization in Canada, we create opportunities and remove barriers for over 200,000 young people through high-quality early learning and child care, as well as before and after school programs. BGC Clubs often work in neighbourhoods that are at greatest risk and we are encouraged by the Ontario government’s commitment to supporting the needs of diverse and underserved populations, including low-income, francophone, Indigenous, Black, other racialized and newcomer communities, as well as vulnerable and special needs children.
BGC Canada will continue to monitor investments and the rollout of Canada’s national child care initiative as more details become available. Read more on BGC Canada’s Guiding Principles for a National Childcare Program here.
