Item - 2016.CD11.12
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Community Development and Recreation Committee on April 13, 2016 and was adopted with amendments.
CD11.12 - Child Care Waitlist Fees and Admissions Policies
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Community Development and Recreation Committee:
1. Requested the General Manager, Children's Services to report to the June 23, 2016 Community Development and Recreation Committee meeting on:
a. the implementation and communication plan for eliminating child care waitlist fees for January 2017, and the feasibility of expediting the implementation through voluntary or mandatory approaches prior to this date;
b. the work being undertaken to examine the establishment of a City centralized child care waitlist and other admissions policies; and
c. a summary and/or estimate of the total number of children on all licensed child care centre waitlists, including those with purchase-of-service agreements and those without.
Origin
Summary
For most Toronto parents, finding and paying for child care is a frustrating, competitive and worrying experience. And for many families, the process involves paying non-refundable fees to join multiple waitlists that may never result in a child care space.
Child care centre waitlist policies and practices are inconsistent and confusing. Desperate parents are forced to navigate what has become an expensive admission system with minimal guidelines and little transparency. This process is doubly complicated for subsidy-eligible parents who are placed on a City centralized waitlist, along with thousands of other families, to secure the financial assistance they need to take an available space.
Through the City's consultations on the new Service Plan 2015-2019 and the New Funding Formula, parents raised concerns about waiting list practices. They suggested that the City should establish a centralized waitlist system for all child care centres in order to increase accountability and fairness. Children's Services is examining the feasibility of this concept.
Parents also identified that "paying multiple waitlist fees for a child care space is a barrier to accessing care." In response to these concerns, Children's Services announced that all service providers receiving a General Operating Grant from Toronto Children’s Services must eliminate waitlist registration fees for families effective January 1, 2017.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-91627.pdf
Speakers
Councillor Janet Davis
Councillor Pam McConnell
Motions
That the Recommendations in the letter (March 29, 2016) from Councillor Davis be adopted with the following amendments:
1. The Community Development and Recreation Committee request the General Manager, Children's Services to report to the June 23, 2016 meeting on:
a. the implementation and communication plan for eliminating child care waitlist fees for January 2017, and the feasibility of expediting the implementation through voluntary or mandatory approaches prior to this date;
b. the work being undertaken to examine the establishment of a City centralized child care waitlist and other admissions policies; and
c. a summary and/or estimate of the total number of children on all licensed child care centre waitlists, including those with purchase-of-service agreements and those without.
Vote (Amend Item) Apr-13-2016
| Result: Carried | Majority Required |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 5 | Members that voted Yes are Ana Bailão, Josh Colle, Paula Fletcher, Joe Mihevc, James Pasternak (Chair) |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Jon Burnside |