Child Care and Early Years Service System Managers:
I want to thank you for your leadership and partnership, especially during these last two years as we worked together to keep families safe in response to COVID-19.
In March, our government signed a historic deal with the federal government to lower child care fees across Ontario and increase access to high-quality, affordable, child care.
As an important first step of this agreement, we are providing immediate financial relief to all Ontario families with children under the age of six in licensed child care programs enrolled in the Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. We have made the commitment to parents that they would see their fees reduced by
25% retroactive to April 1, 2022.
We have consulted with parents, along with licensed child care operators, on how the province can better standardize and streamline the CWELCC, as we work to get savings into parents’ pocketbooks.
Today, we are implementing that advice by extending the date for licensees to opt- into the CWELCC System from September 1, 2022 to November 1, 2022, to allow licensees additional time to make decisions about enrolment and preserve the rights of parents to fee rebates and reductions.
I am also providing Service System Managers the following direction in order to enhance transparency for child care operators and to ensure that refunds can begin to flow to families as soon as possible:
• System Service Managers to share an example of a standard agreement between a licensee and the Service System Manager for the provision of CWELCC funding available to all licensees no later than August 29, 2022.
• Service System Managers to process applications and confirm eligibility within 10 calendar days of date of application.
• Service System Managers and licensees to execute an agreement within 30 calendar days of date of application, down from 60.
• Licensees to provide rebates to families within 20 calendar days of receiving funding.
This plan will ensure parents continue to benefit from the next increment of savings
— 50% on average —as originally scheduled by December 31, 2022.
I want to acknowledge the significant work required to make child care more affordable to families across the province.
Now, more than ever, your continued partnership in the delivery of child care and early years is crucial as we work together to build a system that meets the needs of children, families, service providers and educators.
Thank you for working with us as we ensure parents benefit from affordable childcare and that their children have the best possible start in life.
Sincerely,
Hon. Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education