Item - 2017.CD23.5

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council request that the Province develop policy guidelines to support a provincial salary and fee framework, including consideration of a geared to income sliding fee scale capped at $10 a day, that would advance the goals of the Child Care Growth Strategy; and provide greater flexibility to municipalities in the use of provincial funding to expedite the reduction of child care fees.

2.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Children's Services to enter into and execute agreements with non-profit and public sector partners to fund capital projects associated with the retrofit, expansion or development of child care spaces outside of schools to be funded from the Child Care Capital Reserve Fund (XR1103) using funds previously approved by Council as part of the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, with such agreements to be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Children's Services to advance up to 90 per cent of the cost of federally funded Capital Projects prior to December 31, 2018 with the remainder to be paid upon satisfactory completion of the projects to ensure that federal funds are committed prior to the December 31, 2018 deadline for expenditures, with such arrangements to be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and Chief Financial Officer.

4.  City Council request the General Manager, Children's Services, to undertake consultation with parents, child care agencies and other stakeholders on affordability options for licensed child care; the capital funding strategy and expansion plan; subsidy policy and funding changes to encourage increased access to child care services for workers with part-time or non-standard work hours.

The General Manager, Children's Services gave a presentation to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on Growing Toronto's Licensed Child Care System.

This report provides details related to Phase One of implementing the Council-approved Toronto Licensed Child Care Growth Strategy (for children from birth to 4 years) and reflects the impacts of recent funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments. It highlights targets and system transformations required to achieve the long-term goals of the Strategy including setting targets for growth, affordability and a thriving workforce and identifies policy issues that must be addressed.