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Ontario is expanding eligibility for targeted emergency child care to include truck drivers, farmers and grocery store and pharmacy workers, among others.
The move is intended to support workers and their families with free child-care options in regions, including Ottawa, where students continue to learn remotely.
“Over 500,000 working parents will be benefiting from this announcement, effective Wednesday, to have access to free, dependable, and safe child care,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement.
The province released a list of workers eligible for free child care on Jan. 9.
The list was expanded on Monday to include workers in fuel distribution and oil refineries; education staff who are required to report to work in person while their children continue with remote learning; grocery store and pharmacy workers; truck drivers; farmers and those who support food or agricultural product supply chains; workers involved in the collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste and workers who manufacture and distribute disinfectants and sanitizers.
To check for eligibility, contact your municipality or municipal service system manager.