Item - 2015.CD3.12

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.  For reasons of quality, health and safety, City Council reaffirm its 2014 position opposing proposed regulations that would:

a.  Require only one staff person for a group of twenty children aged nine to twelve; and

b.  Remove the requirement that home child care providers be restricted to caring for a maximum of three children under the age of three.

2.  City Council support in principle proposed regulations requiring all employees working in licensed child care centres and all regulated home child care providers to have current first aid certification, and request that the Province work with municipalities to allow sufficient time to implement this new requirement.

3.  City Council oppose a proposed regulation that would remove the limit on the number of children with extra support needs that can be cared for by a single home child care provider for reasons of health and safety.

4.  With respect to increased requirements for mandatory and ongoing police vulnerable sector checks, City Council request the Province to defer consideration of this proposal until the second phase of regulatory changes, to provide municipalities with time to understand the policy, financial and operational implications of implementing this proposal.

5.  City Council direct the General Manager, Children's Services, to consult with Toronto Police Services, Legal Services, Human Resources, other divisions and the child care community to identify any policy, operational and financial issues associated with implementing regulations related to Police Vulnerable Sector Checks and first aid certification and to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on these impacts prior to the end of 2015.

6.  City Council request that the Province include in phase two of the regulatory reform process, the changes necessary to align requirements for school board and child care programs to ensure a seamless experience for children throughout the school day and to facilitate joint planning of the early learning system.

This report seeks Council approval for a City of Toronto position on proposed regulatory amendments made under the new Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, which governs child care in Ontario.  Proposals were posted by the Province on March 24, 2015.