Item - 2018.EX35.28

The Executive Committee recommends that:    

1.  City Council amend the Children's Services 2018 approved Operating Budget to reflect an increase of $41.329 million gross, $0 net and the associated Service Levels, with the following allocations:

a.  an increase of $13.744 million gross, $0 net in General Operating Funding to improve affordability be made to eligible licensed child care programs, in accordance with City guidelines, fully funded by the Province;

b.  an increase of $8.305 million gross, $0 net for the Fee Stabilization Support program, fully funded by the Province;

c.  an increase of $0.358 million gross, $0 net for the Journey Together Program to increase the number of culturally relevant licensed child care spaces and child and family programs, fully funded by the Province;

d.  new funding of $4.792 million gross, $0 net for Licensed Home Child Care, to provide stable funding to benefit home child care providers in the form of increased compensation and benefit parents in the form of reduced fees, fully funded by the Province;

e.  an additional $0.845 million gross, $0 net for Specials Needs Resourcing, fully funded by the Province;

f.  an additional $1.240 million gross, $0 net to administer expansion and growth, that includes an additional 5 permanent positions and 3 temporary positions to support planning and implementation of system growth and expansion, fully funded by the Province; and

g.  new funding of $12.045 million for the Community-Based Early Years and Child Care Capital Program (CBCP), fully funded by the Province.

2.  Authorize the Acting General Manager, Children's Services to receive the funding from the Province of Ontario for the new Community-Based Early Years and Child Care Capital Program, and enter into Service Agreements that are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, with provider agencies in order to flow provincial funds to these agencies.

This report seeks approval to amend the 2018 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services to reflect an increase of $41.329 million in Year 2 Provincial contributions.

This report recommends amendments to the 2018 Approved Operating Budget for Children's Services that supports the City Council-approved Child Care Service Plan 2015 - 2019, the City Council approved Toronto's Licensed Child Care Growth Strategy for Children under 4, 2017-2026 and the Child Care Growth Strategy - Phase One Implementation (2017-2019).