Item - 2020.EC17.12

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the City of Toronto's response to the proposed regulatory amendments under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 in Attachment 1 to the report (October 27, 2020) from the General Manager, Children's Services, and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

2.  City Council forward the City of Toronto's response in Recommendation 1 above to the Premier of Ontario, the Ontario Minister of Education, the federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and all Toronto Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament.

3.  City Council request the Province of Ontario to consider new investments to increase compensation for the early years workforce and improve recruitment and retention, recognizing the essential service that these workers have provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and in supporting economic recovery.

4.  City Council forward Toronto's Licensed Child Care Growth Strategy for Children Under 4, 2017-2026, the City's plan requiring tri-government investment to increase capacity, improve affordability, and support a thriving workforce, to the Province of Ontario to inform a Provincial Child Care Plan and the planning for a National Child Care System.

5.  City Council forward the report (October 27, 2020) from the General Manager, Children's Services, and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to the Intergovernmental Table discussing the renewal of and/or new Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreements.

6.  City Council request the City Manager to communicate the City of Toronto's position that the Ontario Government's proposed regulatory changes are contrary to the principle of quality in the Federal Framework Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care and to join the intergovernmental discussions on child care as an official partner, with the goal of achieving a new trilateral agreement which aligns with the planning for a National Child Care System.

The General Manager, Children's Services, gave a presentation on Response to Proposed Regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

This report transmits for Committee and Council's review and approval, staff's draft response on proposed regulatory amendments to the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 released by the Ministry of Education on October 2, 2020. This report and attachment provides an overview of the response from parents and service providers that informed the draft City position, as well as information on potential impacts and the City's draft response. Full details of the City's assessment of the proposals, and draft response, are available in the attachment. Children's Services, with Parks, Forestry and Recreation, consulted with parents, service providers, and other stakeholders in developing these responses.

The Ministry of Education is accepting feedback on proposed changes until November 20, 2020. These responses will be submitted in draft to the Ministry in order to meet the deadline with a provision that a final response will be submitted following City Council consideration and decision.