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"We are delivering real, positive change for parents and young children by stabilizing the regulated child care system and increasing access to high-quality child care," says Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell. "We want our children to have the best possible start in life, and to arrive at school ready to learn." Huron County is set to benefit to the tune of $215,500 in new child care funding while Bruce County will receive $243,000.
The government is investing $58.2 million in federal child care transfer funds to stabilize existing child care spaces and create new subsidized child care spaces. The province will work with municipalities to create new spaces for children from infant through age five, with a particular emphasis on pre-school-age children, ages two-and-a-half to five, in child care centres in and around schools.
"This investment is the largest boost to child care in a decade, and represents a real commitment to early learning. It's another part of our plan to improve our kids' reading, writing and math skills," says Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Minister of Children and Youth Services. To expand the capacity of the system, Bountrogianni announced that $19.4 million this year will fund one-time capital projects, including adding or converting rooms and adding facilities, such as washrooms and playgrounds.
"For too long our regulated child care system has been ignored and the result has been reduced access to affordable quality child care," says Kira Heineck, Executive Director of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. "We are encouraged by the leadership this government is showing by making high quality, educational child care available to more of our families and children," she adds.
- reprinted from the Clinton News-Record