Excerpt
Fifty-six child-care projects planned for schools across Ontario have been classified as "cancelled," potentially costing around $11 million in "sunk costs," according to a Ministry of Education document.
The projects — which were set to create 3,493 child-care spots — were to be built at six boards' schools, a document The Trillium received through a freedom-of-information request said. The boards include the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, Durham District School Board, Simcoe County District School Board and Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
The local projects that have been cancelled, and their number of proposed child-care spaces, include St. Monica's Catholic School in Barrie (39), Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Elmvale (39), Chris Hadfield Public School in Bradford (49), and St. Antoine Catholic Elementary School in Victoria Harbour (39).
Additionally, one of the projects listed as still under review includes 39 spaces at St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School in Barrie.
Last fall, The Trillium reported that dozens of child-care projects were in limbo after three of these school boards said an offer from the province to boost funding to cover increased costs for the projects wouldn't cut it.
The Ministry of Education document shows there were more than just three school boards offered "25% additional funding," and that while six boards apparently decided to proceed with the projects, another six indicated they couldn't, while two said their decision was "still pending."
The government, meanwhile, says the almost 3,500 previously approved spots the cancelled projects would have created will be reallocated.
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