Item - 2012.CD15.7

This report responds to City Council request that the General Manager, Children's Services, report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on details governing the use of new provincial funding for child care.  Attached to the report is the City's response to the Provincial discussion paper, "Modernizing Child Care in Ontario: Sharing Conversations, Strengthening Partnerships, Working Together", for Council approval.

As reported in June 2012, the Province of Ontario, as part of its 2012/13 budget, announced new resources for child care in Ontario totalling $90 million in 2012/13, $68 million in 2013/14 and $84 million in 2014/15. These resources are one time in nature and will flow through municipalities in their capacity as service system managers. In addition, the Province announced an additional $113 million in capital funding to support child care centres located in schools.  This funding will flow through boards of education. Allocations to individual Boards are not yet know.

In July 2012, the City was informed that its first allocation from these new resources could total $5.661 million for 2012. Funds are intended to assist child care operators in addressing the impacts of full-day kindergarten (FDK) by, among other things, transitioning their services to meet the needs of younger children.  The Children's Services Division will deliver the funding to child care operators through a grants program that will respect provincial guidelines and the investment strategy reported to Council in July 2012. As per provincial guidelines, funds are not intended to expand the current system but rather to stabilize existing programs.

On June 27, 2012, the Minister of Education released a discussion paper titled "Modernizing Child Care in Ontario: Sharing Conversations, Strengthening Partnerships, Working Together".  The paper provides child care stakeholders and partners with an opportunity to provide  feedback on actions required to ensure the stability, availability and viability of a high-quality, early learning and care system for children before and after they enter the school system. 

Children's Services has developed a response to the discussion paper that was informed by a broad community consultation process involving service providers, parents and other stakeholders.  The response is attached for Council's consideration.