EXCERPTS:
Don Giesbrecht, CEO of the Canadian Child Care Federation commends the Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals for introducing new legislation to improve safety and create more licensed child care spaces in the province. The CCCF also joins Minister Sandals call out to Ottawa in her announcement this week that she wanted "to see the federal government come to the table across the country and help the provinces."
"The proposed legislation is a significant step forward to supporting families who struggle to find safe child care spots," said Don Giesbrecht.
"To hear the Ontario Minister call out to the federal government to take on a leadership role for children and child care is a critical step for our sector and we need to encourage all provincial and territorial ministers to do the same."
According to government statistics, only about 20 per cent of children under the age of five have access to regulated care. Marni Flaherty, CCCF board member and president of the Home Childcare Association of Ontario added, "We will be able to build a better system to improve quality in regulated spots in Ontario."
Ontario's amendments to regulation and the Minister's appeal to Ottawa will open up a much needed discussion on what role the federal government plays in funding the provinces and territories in such matters as child care.
Media inquiries: CCCF
Don Giesbrecht
CEO
613-729-5289-221
info@cccf-fcsge.ca
www.cccf-fcsge.ca