Child care and COVID-19 in Canada
Overview and outline
The COVID19 pandemic has been a fact of life in Canada since mid-March 2020, profoundly impacting child care provision along with just about every aspect of life for Canadians. The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) has developed a comprehensive information source on child care and COVID-19 in Canada.
Most of the following menu items are updated regularly and arranged by province/territory where appropriate.
These topics are separate ISSUE files:
These items are available within this issue file:
Reports from a national survey of child care providers
The purpose of this survey, conducted in May 2020, was to learn about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on early learning and child care provision, finances, and concerns for the future.
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The pandemic experience has created an uncertain future for Canadian child care services: Highlights of a national survey [9].
A short report of highlights of the survey results. -
Canadian child care: Preliminary results from a national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic [10].
This report provides the survey data by province/territory in table form as well as additional comments provided by respondents, also provided by province/territory.
CRRU calls for support for Canadian families and the child care sector
Please note: The plan below is now outdated. As child care sectors across Canda move into the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, see Child Care Now's - Strategy for recovery: Making affordable child care for ALL a reality [11] which includes a recommendation for a two-phase approach by the federal government in the aftermath of COVID-19.
March 2020 - We at Childcare Resource and Research Unit, together with other child care researchers and organizations are calling on Canadian governments to collaborate to support families, children, the child care workforce, and child care service providers with the aim of:
- Closing all licensed child care for regular (non-essential parent-workers) use until social distancing is no longer necessary;
- Ensuring the availability of free age-appropriate child care services for children 0-12 years during the closure period for those parents required to work in essential services (grocery employees, postal workers, corrections facilities, emergency services, child care providers, nurses, doctors, etc.). These services will make use of existing licensed child care to ensure the necessary infrastructure is available and incorporate all possible protocols and measures to ensure maximum health and safety of children, educators, parents and the community;
- Continuing to pay all child care staff (educators, cooks, directors, supervisors, providers) as if they were still working;
- Ensuring parent fees are suspended during closures;
- Maintaining all government funding to service providers during closures and provide additional funding to compensate for the loss of income from parent fees and/or parent subsidies.
Note that this has been updated from a previous version following community input.
Child care and COVID-19 news responses
This section provides all relevant provincial/ territorial news articles on COVID-19 since March 2020.
Canada [12]
Use these links to access provincial/territorial news articles:
NL [13]/ NS [14] / NB [15] / PE [16] / QC [17] / ON [18] / MB [19] / SK [20] / AB [21] / BC [22] / NT [23] / NU [24] / YK [25]
Canada
COVID-19 and child care news in Canada
Justin Trudeau's government says it champions women. Proroguing Parliament suggests otherwise [26]
The Star, 25 August 2020
To follow in Freeland’s footsteps child care must be a national priority
The Start, 23 August 2020
Nothing ‘off the table’ as federal NDP calls for $2 billion infusion into child care [27]
Humboldt Journal, 23 August 2020
The post-pandemic future: Affordable child care will save the economy [28]
Toronto Life, 19 August 2020
Canada's economic recovery depends on working moms [29]
Refinery 29, 18 August 2020
Pandemic threatens to wipe out decades of progress for working mothers [30]
CBC News, 17 August 2020
Singh calls on feds to fund $10 billion for child care over next 4 years [31]
Huffington Post, 15 August 2020
Growing concern over proposed changes to child care regulations [32]
CTV News, 13 August 2020
As schools prepare to reopen during COVID-19, are the kids alright? [33]
The Conversation, 12 August 2020
Penticton, B.C., parents scramble to find child care as city develops action plan [34]
Global News, 11 August 2020
Kids may find masks uncomfortable, but they'll be vital to stopping COVID-19 in schools, says expert [35]
CBC Radio, 10 August 2020
COVID-19 guidance for schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 [36]
Government of Canada, 9 August 2020
Has the COVID-19 pandemic made a national child care plan an easier sell for Justin Trudeau? [37]
The Globe and Mail, 6 August 2020
'Pandemic pods': How some parents plan on educating their kids in September [38]
CTV News, 30 July 2020
COVID-19 risks for kids are low, must be balanced against cost of being out of school, doctors say [39]
CBC News, 28 July 2020
Calls to fully reopen schools in September are on a collision course with reality [40]
Globe and Mail, 27 July 2020
We can’t let COVID-19 destroy economic gains for women [41]
The Toronto Star, 24 July 2020
An aging Canada can’t afford to have women out of the labour force [42]
The Guardian, 24 July 2020
Feds respond to COVID-19 child-care frustrations with $625M cash infusion [43]
CTV News, 24 July 2020
The economics of childcare [44]
CBC Radio One - The Cost of Living, 17 July 2020
Chrystia Freeland on ‘As It Happens’ Q&A [45]
Childcare at: [6:08]
CBC Radio - As It Happens, 17 July 2020
Childcare is an economic issue Canadians need to tackle, say economists and parents alike [46]
CBC News, 17 July 2020
Women’s participation in labour force reaches lowest level in three decades: RBC [47]
The Star, 16 July 2020
Federal government to provide provinces and territories with $19B for 'safe restart' of economy [48]
CBC News, 16 July 2020
Video: Trudeau announces provinces will receive $19 billion to restart their economies [49]
Child care at: [1:10]
Global News, 16 July 2020 - Access video via YouTube
When a pandemic hits, working moms pay the price [50]
The Tyee, 15 July 2020
83% of teachers surveyed express concerns about returning to school in September [51]
The Globe and Mail, 13 July 2020
Uncertainty over schooling plans has working mothers mulling leaving workforce [52]
CTV News/ The Canadian Press, 13 July 2020
Canada's cautious school reopening plans leave moms in the lurch [53]
Reuters, 12 July 2020
Parents, trapped: Lack of childcare could undermine economic recovery and hurt women, but the solution is expensive [54]
The Globe and Mail, 11 July 2020
Canadian women struggling to return to work [55]
Global News, 10 July 2020
Childcare reform: Why aren’t dads demanding better support, too? [56]
Chatelaine, 9 July 2020
Fiscal snapshot supports calls for a gendered approach to economic relief [57]
CTV News, 9 July 2020
COVID-19 has fostered ‘perfect storm pushing women out of their jobs’: UBC study co-author [58]
Vancouver Sun, 9 July 2020
Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May urge Trudeau to help women and immigrants hurt by COVID-19 [59]
National Observer, 8 July 2020
Opinion: The pandemic is hurting Canada’s working mothers [60]
The Globe and Mail, 8 July 2020
Karina Roman: Parents, provinces call on Ottawa to help ensure schools open in the fall [61]
CBC News, 4 July 2020
Child care a priority in federal COVID-19 help for provinces, PM says [62]
Yahoo News!, 3 July 2020
Education is a human right, but it certainly hasn’t been a COVID-19 priority [63]
The Globe and Mail, 2 July 2020
Video: Coronavirus: The future of daycare and child care services [64]
Global News, 28 June 2020
Coronavirus: The future of daycare and child care services [65]
Global News, 28 June 2020
Child care after the coronavirus pandemic should be more inclusive of children with disabilities [66]
The Conversation, 24 June 2020
Coronavirus forces child-care centres to reduce capacity, leaving parents scrambling [67]
Global News, 25 June 2020
For some non-profits, COVID-19 isn't just a struggle. It's a do-or-die moment [68]
CBC News, 26 June 2020
National childcare strategy will be a lynchpin of economic recovery, says Martha Friendly [69]
CBC News, 19 June 2020
Child care strategy a golden opportunity [70]
The Hamilton Spectator, 23 June 2020
Ottawa urged to earmark billions for child care as provinces reopen [71]
The Toronto Star, 22 June 2020
Better public child care is the engine we need for recovery post-coronavirus [72]
The Conversation, 15 June 2020
As daycares reopen, parents are facing impossible decisions to keep kids safe from COVID-19 [73]
The National Post, 12 June 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is remapping childhood—and the effects may linger [74]
Macleans, 11 June 2020
Extending CERB for months could double $60-billion budget, PBO report suggests [75]
Financial Post, 10 June 2020
Parent/ Family survey: Impact of COVID-19 on Canadians: Parenting during the pandemic [76]
Statistics Canada, June 2020
As Canadian economy reopens, will child care be there to support working parents? [77]
The Toronto Star, 10 June 2020
On child care, politicians are doing exactly what they said they wouldn’t. Women are paying the price [78]
The Toronto Star, 5 June 2020
PSAC calls for more measures to support workers facing child care challenges [79]
PSAC Union, 5 June 2020
Video: House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources - Meeting no.16 [80]
Armine Yalnizyan, 4 June 2020
Video: Lack of child care impacting return to work process [81]
Global News, 4 June 2020
There is no economic recovery without adequate child care [82]
The Star, 2 June 2020
Deal on child care support said to be 'very close' [83]
CTV News, 28 May 2020
Without more support for child care, economic recovery will be slow, says, expert [84]
CBC Current, 22 May 2020
Child care restrictions preventing some from going back to work as economy reopens [85]
CTV News, 18 May 2020
Feds quietly probe expanded role for child care in post-pandemic recovery [86]
The Star, 18 May 2020
Child care is essential to our economic recovery [87]
The Star, 11 May 2020
Trudeau advisers say there is a way out of the Covid-19 downturn: Child care [88]
Andy Blatchford, Politico, 8 May 2020
Ottawa urged to spend on child care to help economy emerge from pandemic [89]
The Star, 6 May 2020
Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau says government committed to providing affordable childcare spaces [90]
Global News, 12 May 2020
Ottawa urged to spend on child care to help economy emerge from pandemic [91]
The Star, 6 May 2020
Public health officials take seriously new research that children may not be superpreaders after all [92]
CBC News, 4 May 2020
'What do we do with the kids?' Experts say child care needed in reopening plans [93]
CTV News, May 2020
Justin Trudeau says he’s committed to gender equality. He just missed a chance to prove it [94]
The Star, 1 May 2020
Survey for parents: Parenting during the pandemic [95]
University of Manitoba
In some provinces, parents are paying thousands to shuttered daycares to keep their child’s spots [96]
The Globe and Mail, 17 April 2020
Opinion: COVID-19 crisis shows the importance of early child care [97]
Edmonton Journal, 18 April 2020
COVID-19’s impact: not recession, but completely different economics [98]
Toronto Star, 9 April 2020
Canadians who don’t qualify for CERB, other COVID-19 support fear falling through cracks [99]
Huffington Post, 8 April 2020
Are you the perfect quarantine parent? (No and there’s no need to be) [100]
The Star, 2 April 2020
Some licensed child-care centres won't survive COVID-19 closures, industry warns [101]
CBC News, 31 March 2020
5 ways to help children cope during a pandemic [102]
Ryerson University, 30 March 2020
COVID-19: Justin Trudeau unveils funding for families, small businesses amid coronavirus uncertainty [103]
Global News, 18 March 2020
COVID-19: Canada’s medical workers scramble to find child care amid COVID-19 outbreak [104]
Globe and Mail, 16 March 2020
Newfoundland
Newfoundland: COVID-19 child care in the news
Child advocate wants N.L.’s school plan tweaked, as kindergarten parent fights for first day changes [105]
CBC News, 20 August 2020
Kids or career? Lack of child care means tough choice for Labrador families [106]
CBC News, 14 July 2020
Daycares can return to full capacity at Alert Level 2, but operators say it's almost impossible [107]
CBC News, 18 June 2020
Your children or your job: Pandemic forcing some parents to make tough decisions [108]
CBC News, 7 June 2020
Child care subsidy won’t be extended despite looming closures [109]
VOCM, 3 June 2020
Working from home while trying to parent? Feel like you’re failing at both? You’re not alone [110]
CBC News, 2 June 2020
Regulated child-care operators free until May 30, with list of rules for expansion [111]
CBC News, 6 May 2020
Panel urges a feminist approach to COVID-19 recovery plan in Newfoundland and Labrador [112]
The Telegram, 6 May 2020
Child care operators in Newfoundland and Labrador can reopen on May 11 [113]
The Telegram, 2 May 2020
Child care details coming soon, says minister of early childhood development [114]
CBC News, 1 May 2020
Substitute teachers, in-home care to be provided for kids of essential workers [115]
CBC News, 1 April 2020
COVID-19: Free child care for essential workers: here's how you can apply [116]
CBC News, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Minister Warr provides update of child care services [117]
Government of Newfoundland, 18 March 2020
COVID-19: What parents paying for child care in N.L. need to know [118]
CBC News, 24 March 2020
COVID-19: NL: Minister Warr announces financial supports for child care sector [119]
Government of Newfoundland, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: NL: Daycare compensation package coming for parents still paying child care fees [120]
VOCM Local News, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: 'Now is the time': N.L. to close all schools, regulated child-care centres to curb spread of COVID-19 [121]
CBC News, 16 March 2020
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia: COVID-19 child care in the news
Nova Scotia students likely back in school in the fall with social distancing: Teachers Union [122]
Halifax Today, 13 July 2020
Child benefit increasing [123]
Government of Nova Scotia, 29 June 2020
Nova Scotia child-care centres facing layoffs to stay afloat until September [124]
Global News, 26 June 2020
Childcare re-opened but industry still under-funded: NDP critic [125]
Halifax Today, 21 June 2020
Government failed at communicating re-opening of childcare sector: union [126]
Halifax Today, 14 June 2020
Child-care providers hope COVID-19 leads to universal access in Nova Scotia [127]
CBC News, 9 June 2020
Lack of child care holding women back in Nova Scotia [128]
The Chronicle Herald, 7 June 2020
Nova Scotia health-care workers calling for more support in child care [129]
Global News, 4 June 2020
Early childhood educator says province’s reopening plan lacks clarity, consistency [130]
The Chronicle Herald, 4 June 2020
Nova Scotia daycares will reopen on June 15 [131]
CTV News, 2 June 2020
Farm families ‘drowning’ under pandemic pressures plead for child-care help
CBC News, 2 June 2020
Commentary: No, Mr. Premier, child care doesn’t happen organically [132]
The Chronicle Herald, 2 June 2020
This essential worker’s child-care costs have almost tripled during COVID-19 [133]
CBC news, 25 May 2020
N.S. daycares, businesses prepare to reopen while waiting for government plan [134]
CTV News, 12 May 2020
Nova Scotia schools to stay closed for remainder of the academic year [135]
Global News, 8 May 2020
Nova Scotia to reassess child-care needs of essential workers [136]
CBC News, 1 May 2020
COVID-19: Order by the medical officer of health under - Section 13 [137]
Government of Nova Scotia, 24 March 2020
COVID-19: What parents need to know about school and daycare closures in Nova Scotia [138]
CBC News, 16 March 2020
New Brunswick
COVID-19 and child care in the news in New Brunswick
Changes proposed to increase child safety at licensed early learning and child-care facilities [139]
Government of NB, 9 June 2020
Daycare providers confused as government backtracks on non-contact thermometer use [140]
CBC News, 16 June 2020
2 daycares affected by active case of COVID-19 in Campbellton region [141]
CBC News, 25 May 2020
People must 'embrace the risk' of reopening daycares for the sake of recovery, Cardy says [142]
CBC News, 14 May 2020
Some daycare operators, parents worried about plan to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic [143]
CBC News, 13 May 2020
No start day yet for New Brunswick daycares [144]
CBC News, 7 May 2020
COVID-19: NB: Essential workers lose emergency daycare, despite COVID-19 plan [145]
CBC News, 23 March 2020
N.B. working to get children of essential services workers in daycare during state of emergency [146]
Global News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Association head says it's up to individual daycares to decide whether to charge fees [147]
CBC News, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: N.B. chief medical officer recommending closure of childcare centers [148]
Global News, 16 March 2020
COVID-19: N.B. parents preparing to deal with coronavirus-related daycare closures [149]
Global News, 16 March 2020
COVID-19: New Brunswick: Health Department urges daycares to close [150]
CBC News, 16 March 2020
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island: COVID-19 and child care in the news
More P.E.I. parents becoming interested in home-schooling [151]
CBC News, 28 July 2020
P.E.I. government ‘putting the economy before the health of our children’ [152]
CBC News, 11 June 2020
Restrictions to ease further in child-care centres when P.E.I. enters Phase 3 [153]
CBC News, 28 May 2020
P.E.I. child-care centres confident upon reopening [154]
CBC News, 25 May 2020
Child-care spaces for Phase 2 on P.E.I. cut by about half from pre-pandemic [155]
CBC, 15 May 2020
Prince Edward Island to offer $75 per week stipend for childcare starting May 22 [156]
Journal Pioneer, 13 May 2020
Child-care uncertainty ‘really stressful’ for some parents [157]
CBC News, 12 May 2020
Child-care centres, parents trying to navigate unknown future as COVID-19 restrictions ease [158]
CBC News, 29 April 2020
COVID-19: New educational and financial supports for Islanders [159]
Government of PEI, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Amid COVID-19 concerns, P.E.I. daycare closures cause uncertainty for workers, parents [160]
CBC News, 16 March 2020
Schools and child-care centres close in light of COVID-19 on P.E.I. [161]
CBC News, 15 March 2020
Quebec
Quebec: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Quebec childcare unions want regular wages resumed, pandemic changes overturned [162]
CTV News, 25 August 2020
Coronavirus: Quebec promises an ‘updated’ back-to-school plan next week [163]
Global News, 3 August 2020
Daycares in Quebec COVID-19 "hot zones" can increase capacity [164]
CTV News, 28 June 2020
Quebec drops physical distancing rules for children in daycares [165]
CTV News, 18 June 2020
Physicians demand Legault ease restriction rules for children [166]
Montreal Gazette, 7 June 2020
Montreal daycares are open again, but educators are worried about how the kids will respond [167]
CBC News, 31 May 2020
Jusqu'à 3000 travailleurs recherchés dans les CPE [168]
CBC Radio-Canada, 29 May 2020
Garderie et CPE rouverts depuis 3 semaines: Nous souhaitons un assouplissement des directives de distanciation physique [169]
98.5, 29 May 2020
Déconfinement et distanciation physique des enfants: Misons sur la pédagogie extérieure! [170]
100°, 11 May 2020
Des jeunes de 14 ans en renfort dans les garderies? [171]
Radio-Canada, 17 May 2020
Le recrutement d'éducatrices non qualifiées facilité dans les CPE [172]
Le Devoir, 13 May 2020
Nunavik childcare centres to remain closed this week, despite province reopening [173]
Nunatsiaq News, 11 May 2020
Quebec grants additional $22M for unsubsidized childcare [174]
CTV News, 8 May 2020
16 infected north of Montreal in Quebec’s first COVID-19 outbreak in a daycare [175]
CTV News, 6 May 2020
Montreal-area daycares change protocols, prepare for reopening, May 19th [176]
Global News, 5 May 2020
Staffing a concern for daycares as progressive openings approach [177]
Montreal Gazette, 4 May 2020
Video: Daycare educators in Quebec raise red flags [178]
CTV News, 28 April 2020
May opening of elementary schools, daycares ‘a necessary decision,’ says Quebec education minister [179]
CBC News, 27 April 2020
Parents keeping children out of daycare will have to pay to hold space, minister confirms [180]
Montreal Gazette, 3 May 2020
Quebec’s move to reopen schools sows confusion, fear among parents [181]
CBC News, 28 April 2020
Video: Quebec is planning to reopen schools. Here's how it will work [182]
CBC News, 28 April 2020
Some frequently asked questions about progressive opening of daycares [183]
Montreal Gazette, 5 May 2020
Services de garde éducatifs à l’enfance dans le contexte de la COVID-19 / Educational childcare services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic [184]
Gouvernement du Québec, 29 Avril 2020
Quebec’s emergency day care workers call for COVID-19 pay increase [185]
CTV News, 31 March 2020
COVID-19: These EMSB daycares will stay open for parents in essential services [186]
CTV News, 16 March 2020
COVID-19: Quebec to offer free emergency daycare for healthcare workers [187]
CTV News, 15 March 2020
COVID-19: Quebec to close all schools, daycares for at least two weeks in bid to contain coronavirus [188]
Globe and Mail, 14 March 2020
Ontario
Ontario: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Daycare operator says mixing students from different classes 'basically negates' school plans [189]
CTV News, 20 August 2020
Letter: Requests for access to City space for return to school plans [190]
City of Toronto, 18 August 2020
Op-ed: Ontario needs a feminist recovery plan from COVID-19 [191]
Now Toronto, 18 August 2020
Toronto school board says it needs more space, more time to prepare for smaller classes. The city says it can help [192]
The Star. 14 August 2020
Powell and Ferns: Children's wellbeing depends on wellbeing of child care workers [193]
Ottawa Citizen, 12 Aug 2020
Private school plans including smaller classes show stark inequities in education [194]
CityNews, 11 August 2020
Analysis: Back-to-school plan shines light on neglect of Ontario’s education system [195]
Now, 9 August 2020
‘Too many different bubbles’? Child care centres serving kids from different schools risky, some worry [196]
CBC News, 8 August 2020
Historic agreement delivers over $230 million for child care [197]
Government of Ontario, 7 August 2020
Premier Ford and Minister Lecce neglect child care in school reopening plan [198]
Financial Post, 6 August 2020
Update: Ford government plays shell game on funding for child care centres [199]
Now Toronto, 6 August 2020
Child-care advocates warn Ontario daycares may not fully reopen in fall [200]
The Star, 3 August 2020
Ontario elementary students will return to school full time, while some high schoolers will attend part-time [201]
Ottawa Citizen, 31 July 2020
Ontario continues to gradually and safely reopen child care for working parents [202]
Ontario Ministry of Education, 30 July 2020
COVID-19: Guidance for school reopening [203]
Hospital for Sick Children, 29 July 2020
Medical experts led by SickKids release new back-to-school recommendations [204]
CBC News, 29 July 2020
Child-care centres say they’re ready to accept larger groups [205]
CBC News, 27 July 2020
Less than half of Ontario daycares have reopened with school six weeks away [206]
iHeartradio, 23 July 2020
Video: Province to spend $500M on new schools, child care spaces [207]
SooToday, 23 July 2020
Back to school, Part 1: An infectious-disease expert on reopening safely [208]
TVO, 21 July 2020
Why some are critical of Ontario's plan to bring back daycares. [209]
CBC Radio - Ottawa Morning, 20 July 2020
Ontario to ease childcare restrictions [210]
TB News Watch, 14 July 2020
Premier Doug Ford pressed on child care, education during appearance in Cambridge [211]
CBC News, 14 July 2020
Education in Ontario lacks transformational leadership at the top [212]
The Star, 12 July 2020
Grandparents assuming more child-care duties – and risk – during pandemic [213]
The London Free Press, 11 July 2020
Memo sent to Ontario school boards urges 5-day 'face-to-face' learning come fall [214]
CBC News, 9 July 2020
‘The kids are suffering’: With emergency child care closed, some parents are running out of options [215]
The Star, 8 July 2020
Lack of child care a struggle for parents, reopening economy [216]
Yahoo! News, 8 July 2020
Daycares look to resume amid COVID-19 challenges [217]
CTV News, 7 July 2020
From transportation to child care, lots to consider as school boards prepare plans for Aug. 4 deadline [218]
GuelphToday, 30 June 2020
TDSB to allow child care centres in its buildings to reopen as of July 2 [219]
CP24, 26 June 2020
Two councillors warn that tens of thousands of parents could be left without child care due to new guidelines [220]
CP24, 25 June 2020
This Toronto mother gets three hours of sleep a night and wants to know why her toddler’s daycare was blocked from reopening [221]
The Star, 25 June 2020
Coronavirus school closures could widen inequities for our youngest students [222]
The Conversation, 22 June 2020
Peterborough letter: Early childhood learning is vital education [223]
The Peterborough Examiner, 19 June 2020
Ford forces child care centres to consider layoffs, closures [224]
Financial Post, 18 June 2020
Ontario’s three-day notice for child-care reopening is a slap in the face for providers, children and their families [225]
The Toronto Star, 18 June 2020
As many as 56,000 Toronto children could be without a daycare spot under Ontario’s plan to reopen child care: Toronto officials [226]
The Star, 13 June 2020
Ontario government set to provide funding to child-care centres across the province [227]
CBC News, 12 June 2020
Ontario’s reopening is a mess. Just look at child care [228]
The Toronto Star, 11 June 2020
The ‘nice ladies of child care’ are furious at lack of lead time and financial support from the province on daycare reopening [229]
The Toronot Star, 10 June 2020
Reopening child care a huge undertaking for the county [230]
GuelphToday.com, 10 June 2020
Ontario child-care centres can reopen on Friday, Ford government announces [231]
CBC News, 10 June 2020
Ontario child care centres can reopen as early as Friday with some restrictions to curb spread of COVID-19 [232]
The Toronto Star, 9 June 2020
Hamilton daycares won't open for at least another week as city seeks clarity from province [233]
CBC News, 9 June 2020
Lack of child care a barrier for business reopenings in Peterborough [234]
The Peterborough Examiner, 8 June 2020
Advocacy group wants province to release childcare plan [235]
News Talk 1010, 3 June 2020
Daycares fear loss of ECEs, spaces as Ontario bars using its grants for wages [236]
The London Free Press, 3 June 2020
Daycares fear loss of ECEs, spaces as Ontario bars using its grants for wages [237]
The London Free Press, 2 June 2020
Phase 1 workers in northeastern Ontario struggling to get back on the job without child care [238]
CBC News, 29 May 2020
Early childhood educators call for free child care as Ontario economy reopens [239]
The Star, 27 May 2020
Childcare, second wave of pandemic key concerns among moms returning to work after maternity leave [240]
Global News, 27 May 2020
Daycares face higher costs to operate during pandemic [241]
tbnewswatch.com, 24 May 2020
What will Ontario daycares look like when they reopen? [242]
The Star, 24 May 2020
Ontario to keep all schools closed through the end of June [243]
Globe and Mail, 19 May 2020
Province says Ontarians can use home-based child care amid coronavirus pandemic [244]
Global News, 15 May 2020
Ontario plans to provide funding to shuttered childcare centres to cover ‘fixed operating costs’ [245]
CP24, 9 May 2020
Ontario government supporting parents as economy reopens [246]
Government of Ontario, 9 May 2020
Ontario expands emergency child care, but no timing for all centres to reopen [247]
National Post, 29 April 2020
Stratford offering emergency child care for essential workers [248]
My Stratford Now, 23 April 2020
2 of 3 emergency child-care centres close after staff fall sick [249]
CBC News, 23 April 2020
Advocates say child care providers need pandemic relief from Ontario government [250]
The Canadian Press, 16 April 2020
Toronto opening new two emergency child care centres after receiving 800 applications [251]
CTV News, 13 April 2020
Ontario premier says transit drivers, grocery clerks may be soon eligible for free childcare [252]
CTV News, 11 April 2020
Ontario stops child-care centres from collecting payments amid COVID-19, protects spots [253]
CBC News, 10 April 2020
Coronavirus: Ontario orders closed child care centres to stop collecting payments, protects spaces [254]
Global News, 10 April 2020
Ontario government supports families in response to COVID-19 [255]
Government of Ontario, 06 April 2020
City of Ottawa will open 3 child-care centres for essential workers during COVID-19 pandemic [256]
CTV News, 3 April 2020
Free child care for essential frontline workers now underway in London [257]
CBC News, 4 April 2020
Home child care providers worried about having kids in the house [258]
CTV News, April 2 2020
Ontario extends school and child care closure to fight spread of COVID-19 [259]
Government of Ontario, 31 March 2020
Emergency child care centres open in Toronto today [260]
CP24, 31 March 2020
Emergency child care opens for Durham’s health-care and front-line workers [261]
Durham Region, 30 March 2020
COVID-19: Toronto opens 4 emergency child care centres for essential workers [262]
CityNews, 28 March 2020
COVID-19: Toronto opening four daycares for young children of ‘essential and critical’ workers [263]
The Star, 28 March 2020
COVID-19: Free child care for health-care workers to start Monday in Peterborough [264]
The Peterborough Examiner, 27 March 2020
COVID-19: Cash-strapped parents call for child-care rebates amid COVID-19 closures [265]
The Star, 18 March 2020
COVID-19: City offers free child care for essential front-line workers during crisis [266]
The Hamilton Spectator, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Emergency daycare to open in Ontario, but not for federal workers [267]
CBC News, 25 March 2020
COVID-19: Toronto planning free, 24-7 emergency child care for essential workers [268]
The Star, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Toronto to offer free, 24-7 childcare for essential workers after Ontario gives go-ahead [269]
CTV News, 22 March 2020
Who can watch essential workers’ children? [270]
The Star, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: Some empty daycare centres continue to charge parents amid COVID-19 closure [271]
CTV News, 17 March 2020
COVID-19 policies create child-care crunch for essential workers [272]
The Star, 16 March 2020
COVID-19: What about our kids? Thousands of parents, daycare operators want all sites shut down [273]
The Toronto Star, 15 March 2020
COVID-19: Hundreds of GTA childcare centres to close amid efforts to curb panic [274]
CP24, 14 March 2020
Manitoba
Manitoba: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Additional funding ‘welcome news’ for Manitoba child care providers, vacancies still a worry: MCCA [275]
Global News, 25 August 2020
The Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba announced additional support for quality early learning and child care across the province [276]
Government of Canada, 24 August 2020
ather Stefanson on child care in Manitoba [277]
Government of Manitoba, 11 August 2020
Child-care providers keeping safety top of mind following COVID-19 case at Manitoba daycare [278]
Global News, 7 August 2020
Province rapped over changes to child-care funding [279]
Winnipeg Free Press, 6 August 2020
This is what Manitoba schools will look like in September [280]
CTV News, 30 July 2020
Women fall behind in pandemic recovery due to childcare needs, job availability [281]
CBC News, 20 July 2020
Province issues pandemic guidelines for early-years educators [282]
Winnipeg Free Press, 17 July 2020
New Manitoba child-care group calls for immediate funding to deal with COVID-19 restrictions [283]
CBC News, 18 June 2020
Restoring Services: Phase 3 [284]
Government of Manitoba, June 2020
As Manitobans head back to work, more accessible quality child care needed [285]
CBC News, 1 June 2020
Manitoba childcare centres to accommodate more children in phase two of reopening plan [286]
Global News, 25 May 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic could bankrupt Manitoba’s childcare centres, early childhood educators warn [287]
PressProgress, 2 April 2020
Province pushes for more daycares to reopen [288]
Winnipeg Free Press, 9 April 2020
Province taking steps to connect critical service workers with child care services [289]
CTV News, 9 April 2020
Province asking shuttered child-care facilities to re-open [290]
Winnipeg Sun, 2 April 2020
COVID-19: ‘A tough spot’: Parents hit by coronavirus downturn struggle to pay for daycare, but don’t want to lose spaces [291]
CBC News, 31 March 2020
COVID-19: 77 Manitoba daycares open, but mixed messages lead to ‘chaos, confusion’: providers [292]
Global News, 24 March 2020
COVID-19: N.B. working to get children of essential services workers in daycare during state of emergency [146]
CBC News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Manitoba health-care workers want action on child-care promise [293]
CBCB News, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: Compassion required in child-care crunch [294]
Winnipeg Free Press, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: Manitoba government working on plan for childcare during pandemic [295]
Global News, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: Daycares, preschools to close after Friday in response to coronavirus, Manitoba premier says [296]
CBC News, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: Manitoba daycare workers ‘treated like garbage’ say early childhood educators [297]
Global News, 15 March 2020
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Saskatchewan ECE survey reveals the need for a workforce strategy to raise quality in the province’s ELCC sector [298]
CCCF, 23 June 2020
Coronavirus: Saskatchewan daycare operators call for increased communication from province [299]
Global News, 11 June 2020
Saskatchewan increases access to child-care for working parents ahead of Phase 3 [300]
Global News, 4 June 2020
Daycares allowed to have 15 children per area under phase three of Re-Open Sask. plan [301]
CTV News, 29 May 2020
Lack of child care could keep some Sask. parents home during reopening plan [302]
CBC News, 25 April 2020
Sask. daycare providers calling on government for financial support during COVID-19 pandemic [303]
CTV News, 4 April 2020
COVID-19: 'My job is giving hugs': Daycare concerns include safety, funding, future [304]
CBC News, 27 March 2020
COVID-19: Sask. school daycares remain open for children of health care, essential service workers [305]
Saskatoon StarPhoenix, 21 March 2020
COVID-19: Coronavirus: Childcare options for essential workers in Saskatchewan [306]
Global News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Sask, NDP calls for blanket child care closures, support for parents amid COVID-19 pandemic [307]
CTV News, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: Licensed daycares in Saskatchewan still open amid novel coronavirus pandemic [308]
Global News, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: Saskatchewan: Province announces class suspensions effective March 20, wind down period until Thursday [309]
Government of Saskatchewan, 16 March 2020
Alberta
Alberta: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Lack of child-care spaces could stall local economy, chamber tells city council [310]
Lethbridge Herald, 12 August 2020
Federal funding to increase Alberta child-care subsidies for first time in 12 years [311]
CBC News, 23 July 2020
Opinion: Let's unwind Alberta's complicated history of misogyny [312]
CBC News, 21 July 2020
Fragile child care sector in Alberta hit hard by COVID-19: national survey [313]
Edmonton Journal, 17 July 2020
Alberta women shoulder disproportionate economic toll as pandemic forces mothers out of workforce [314]
Calgary Herald, 17 July 2020
Kenney’s economic recovery plan fails working families on child care despite strong support for action from Albertans [315]
Alberta Federation of Labour, 6 July 2020
End to Alberta's $25/day child-care program creates 'double-blow' for families [316]
CBC News, 2 July 2020
'A nightmare for employers': Companies getting ready to bring staff back to work, but lack of childcare a major obstacle [317]
Financial Post, 12 June 2020
Thousands of kids but limited summer camp, childcare options [318]
Chat News Today, 1 June 2020
Childcare could be the lynchpin in recovery efforts [319]
End Poverty Edmonton, 13 May 2020
Childcare guidelines released by province, early childhood educators ask for more funding [320]
Chat News Today, 11 May 2020
Questions remain about how Alberta daycares will reopen [321]
Global News, 12 May 2020
Alberta to reopen daycares with limited capacity, health screening [322]
The Globe and Mail, 9 May 2020
Update: Childcare in schools will be allowed, says minister [323]
Chat News Today, 7 May 2020
Province announces help for child care sector [324]
Chat News Today, 6 May 2020
Alberta offers grants to child care centres, day homes to prepare for relaunch [325]
Global News, 6 May 2020
Alberta allows 190 child-care centres to reopen but only a few offer $25/day rate [326]
CBC News, 14 April 2020
Retailers, couriers, taxi drivers again eligible to send kids to daycare [327]
CTV News, 1 April 2020
COVID-19: Alberta NDP calls for immediate child care support [328]
Edmonton Journal - Youtube, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Daycare spaces reopen for children of Alberta's essential workers [329]
CBC News, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Alberta government to reopen 15,000 childcare spaces for core service workers [330]
Chat News Today, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: Alberta to reopen selected daycares to assist health care workers [331]
CTV News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Alberta has 195 COVID-19 cases; some child care centres to reopen for essential service workers [332]
Global News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Parents urged to use caution in sudden search for child care, online support groups grow [333]
Calgary Herald, 18 March 2020
COVID-19: Alberta cancels all school classes, closes licensed daycares [334]
Edmonton Journal, 16 March 2020
COVID-19: Alberta cancels K-12 classes, closes child-care centres due to COVID-19 pandemic [335]
CBC News, 15 March 2020
British Columbia
British Columbia: COVID-19 and child care in the news
How daycares have operated during the pandemic — and what it can tell us about schools reopening [336]
CBC News, 14 August 2020
School year start date to be pushed back for B.C. students, unclear when in-class learning will begin [337]
Global News, 11 August 2020
B.C. will delay start of school: Minister of Education [338]
Vancouver is Awesome, 11 August 2020
‘We are stuck’: After-school care an extra worry for B.C. parents amid COVID-19 [339]
Global News, 5 August 2020
Most B.C. students to return to full-time classes in September [340]
CTV News, 29 July 2020
Professional development goes virtual for child care professionals [341]
Voice, 29 July 2020
Child-care services at Vancouver community centres returning this fall [342]
CBC News, 23 July 2020
Comox Valley MPs want feds to stabilize child care sector [343]
Comox Valley Record, 18 July 2020
$1.6-million child care facility coming to Canal Flats [344]
MyEastkootenayNow, 24 June 2020
Children unlikely to pass COVID-19 to each other, says provincial health officer [345]
CBC News, 23 June 2020
Opinion: Early childhood educators at the forefront of B.C.’s recover [346]
Vancouver Sun, 18 June 2020
B.C. extends emergency child-care funding through the summer [347]
CBC News, 17 June 2020
Emergency covid-19 funding for Indigenous Early Learning & Child Care (June 1 - September 30, 2020) [348]
BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, 1 June 2020
Daycares in B.C. not mandated to reopen despite new health guidelines [349]
Tricity news, 15 May 2020
Delta parents forced to choose ‘undesirable childcare options’ [350]
Delta Optimist, 14 May 2020
Reopening B.C.: updated guidelines released for childcare centres [351]
Global News, 15 May 2020
B.C. daycares will begin to reopen in mid-May amid COVID-19 pandemic [352]
Global News, 6 May 2020
Thousands of child-care spaces still available in B.C. for children of essential workers [353]
CBC News, 23 April 2020
Struggle to find childcare for B.C.’s essential-service staff highlights fear over sector’s future [354]
CBC News, 7 April 2020
Province helps essential service workers find child care [355]
MyPowellRiverNow, 2 April 2020
COVID-19: Temporary emergency funding guidelines [356]
Government of BC, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Vancouver offers emergency childcare referrals to essential COVID-19 workers [357]
Global News, 27 March 2020
COVID-19: Operational requirements unsuitable should daycare open for essential workers: Operators [358]
VOCM, 27 March 2020
COVID-19: Newsletter - Child care and COVID-19 [359]
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: In-home child-care providers face tough decisions despite government aid [360]
Vancouver Sun, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: Okanagan (B.C) daycare supporting essential service providers amid COVID-19 [361]
Salmon Arm Observer, 21 March 2020
COVID-19: BC: Child care gets a boost to help support essential service workers during coronavirus crisis [362]
Global News, 21 March 2020
COVID-19 shut down B.C. schools — so why are daycares still open? [363]
CBC News, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: Opinion: It's 'unethical' to keep B.C. child care facilities open during the COVID-19 pandemic [364]
Kamloops Matters, 19 March 2020
BC: Child-care providers raise coronavirus concerns in letter to B.C. premier [365]
Global News, 18 March 2020
B.C. daycares to stay open, but situation could change quickly: Horgan [366]
Global News, 17 March 2020
B.C. physicians concerned over lack of childcare options amid COVID-19 emergency [367]
CBC News, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: Preschools and daycares need guidance, financial help during pandemic say, operators [368]
Prince George Citizen, 16 March 2020
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Financial support for early learning and child care [369]
Government of Northwest Territories, May 2020
Financial uncertainty as childcare forges on during Covid-19 [370]
Cabin Radio, 1 May 2020
N.W.T. government commits $5M for child care for essential workers [371]
CBC News, 24 April 2020
COVID-19: Information for schools and licensed early child child programs [372]
Government NWT, 18 March 2020
Nunavut
Nunavut: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Nunavut allows parks, playgrounds and daycares to reopen [373]
Nunatsiaq News, 1 June 2020
Nunavut daycares say they're at risk of going bankrupt during pandemic [374]
Nunatsiaq News, 28 April 2020
Nunavut to financially support hunters, childcare workers during COVID-19 [375]
Nunatsiaq News, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Information for schools and licensed early child care programs [376]
Government Northwest Territories, 25 March 2020
COVID-19: Many NWT daycares and day homes stay open in a time of childcare crisis [377]
Cabin Radio, 24 March 2020
COVID-19: All Nunavut schools and daycares to close for three weeks [378]
CBC News, 16 March 2020
Yukon
Yukon: COVID-19 and child care in the news
Yukon continues heading towards Phase 3 of reopening [379]
Yukon News, 15 July 2020
Child care operators receive additional funding [380]
Government of Yukon, 6 April 2020
Yukon daycares can access further funding during pandemic [381]
Yukon News, 15 April 2020
Yukon early childhood educators concerned about working during pandemic [382]
Yukon News, 27 March 2020
COVID-19: Updated: Public health emergency declared in Yukon over COVID-19 [383]
Yukon News, 18 March 2020
Child care services over the period of the pandemic
UPDATE: As a result of all of the changes and the implementation of re-opening guidelines and protocols for P/T across Canada we are no longer updating this 'Summary chart - State of child care during COVID-19 by province/territory'.
Summary chart - State of child care during COVID-19 by province/territory
This table provides summary information about provincial/territorial initiatives and responses to child care in the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Title: Child care during COVID-19 – Provinces/territories - Operation of services, emergency services and funding and re-opening.
More detailed information can be found in the provincial/ territorial table.
Table on the status of child care in Canada and the COVID crisis – Provinces/territories
The information in this provincial/territorial table has been gathered using government information, media sources and individuals in the field. We have made every attempt to make it as correct and up-to-date as possible; we will be updating it on a regular basis as long as necessary. Thanks to Don Giesbrecht (Canadian Child Care Federation [384]) for sharing information. Title: Status of child care in Canada in the COVID crisis – Provinces/ territories.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Summary Chart [385] | 469.67 KB |
| Provincial/ territorial table [386] | 1 MB |
International responses to the pandemic
Relevant international news
UNESCO webinar paints ECEC as ‘the forgotten child’ in society, calls for more attention [388]
The Sector, 20 July 2020
Policy memo: Strengthening the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion [389]
European Commission, June 2020
Why recovery needs to have children at its centre [390]
Social Europe, 16 June 2020
'I won't go': Cheers and tears as Europe's kids go back to school [391]
CTV News, 11 May 2020
Schools reopening has not triggered rise in Covid-19 cases, EU ministers told [392]
The Guardian, 18 May 2020
No coronavirus spike found after re-opening schools in 22 EU countries [393]
The Telegraph, 18 May 2020
Lack of childcare ‘forcing key workers to stay home’ [394]
BBC, 30 March 2020
If coronavirus forces childcare services to close for good, parents will be left stranded [395]
The Guardian, 30 March 2020
Coronavirus: Creches will not ask parents for fees after deal with State [396]
The Irish Times, 24 March 2020
The coronavirus puts child care sector in need of a bailout [397]
Boston Globe, 24 March 2020
Opinion: Child cares - and parents of young children - need a bailout [398]
Romper, 20 March 2020
COVID-19 resources: State child care actions in response to COVID-19 [399]
The Hunt Institue, Ongoing updates
COVID-19: The U.S. Coronavirus response must meet health workers’ child care needs [400]
Center for American Progress, 24 March 2020
COVID-19: Babies don’t do social distancing [401]
The Hill, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Australia: Medical certificate needed for childcare subsidy if children kept home [402]
The Guardian, 19 March 2020
COVID-19: Scramble for childcare in Madrid as schools closed over coronoavirus [403]
The Guardian, 11 March 2020
COVID-19: UK: Parents with these jobs can continue to send their children to school [404]
SkyNews, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: UK: Nurseries will close without more support during coronavirus [405]
The Guardian, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: UK: All schools to close from Friday; GCSE and A-level exams cancelled – UK Covid-19, as it happened [406]
The Guardian, 18 March 2020
COVID-19: For parents, a battle to find day care while so much closes amid coronavirus fears [407]
The Washington Post, 13 March 2020
‘What’s the right thing to do?’ Coronavirus forces families to make painful child care decisions [408]
The Time, 17 March 2020
Coronavirus: How does it impact child care providers and CCR&R? [409]
Child Care Aware of America, 28 February 2020
Being a childcare worker has always meant living on the frontlines [410]
Jezebel, 17 March 2020
Denmark gives green light to children's pyjama parties [411]
The Local, 14 May 2020
How reopened schools in Denmark keep children safely apart [412]
BBC News, 12 May 2020
‘It’s like walking a tightrope’: Life after lockdown in Denmark [413]
The Local, 18 April 2020
Three toys per child and a teddy bear ban: New rules for Denmark’s kindergartens [414]
The Local, 16 April 2020
Denmark first in Europe to reopen schools after coronavirus lockdown [415]
The Local, 15 April 2020
How schools and day care centres in Denmark are gearing up for reopening [416]
The Local, 13 April 2020
Government recommendations for small kids returning to daycare, kindergarten and school [417]
CPH Post, 9 April 2020
Country responses
Austria
Schools are closed but will continue to supervise children of parents who are working. Child care centres are closed in some locales such as Vienna.
Belgium
Child care centres are not required to close. Schools are closed but some schools will remain open to look after children of essential workers.
Denmark
Re-opened child care on April 15, 2020
Denmark gives green light to children's pyjama parties [411]
The Local, 14 May 2020
How reopened schools in Denmark keep children safely apart [412]
BBC News, 12 May 2020
‘It’s like walking a tightrope’: Life after lockdown in Denmark [413]
The Local, 18 April 2020
Three toys per child and a teddy bear ban: New rules for Denmark’s kindergartens [414]
The Local, 16 April 2020
Denmark first in Europe to reopen schools after coronavirus lockdown [415]
The Local, 15 April 2020
How schools and day care centres in Denmark are gearing up for reopening [416]
The Local, 13 April 2020
Government recommendations for small kids returning to daycare, kindergarten and school [417]
CPH Post, 9 April 2020
Finland
Re-opening schools and daycares starting May 14, 2020
Finland to reopen schools and daycares gradually starting May 14 [418]
National Post, 29 April 2020
France
Will re-open child care on May 11, 2020
70 cases of COVID-19 at French schools days after re-opening [419]
The Star, 18 May 2020
Viral photo shows preschoolers confined to chalk squares for social-distanced playtime [420]
The Hill, 13 May 2020
France starts to reopen schools - but many kids remain at home [421]
The Local, 12 May 2020
French PM reveals detailed plan to end lockdown in France [422]
The Local, 28 April 2020
Updated: How France's plan to reopen schools has changed [423]
The Local, 21 April 2020
Germany
All child care centres closed.
Ireland
All child care centres closed.
Creches will not ask parents for fees for three months, as government scheme will see childcare worker wages topped up beyond the 70 per cent level announced for others.
Department of Children and Youth Affairs will reimburse childcare providers a further 30 per cent on top of the scheme announced earlier, which will see the Government pay 70 per cent of a workers salary up to €410 per week.
Importance of childcare to the economy has been recognised at last [5:22] [424]
Irish Times, 15 June 2020
What will reopened childcare centres look like to staff and to children? [425]
The Irish Times, 2 June 2020
Coronavirus: HSE experts support the early reopening of schools [426]
The Irish Times, 29 May 2020
Report warns over ‘financial sustainability’ of childcare sector [427]
The Irish Times, 14 May 2020
Italy
All child care centres closed.
Social bubbles and no toys from home: How Italy will reopen kindergartens [428]
The Local, 4 August 2020
Italians prepare to return to work, if they can find child-care [429]
The Wall Street Journal, 2 May 2020
Lithuania
All child care centres are closed.
Netherlands
Will re-open child care centres on May 11, 2020
De rol van kinderen in de transmissie van SARS-CoV-2 / The role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [430]
Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 6 June 2020
Initial results on how COVID-19 spreads within Dutch families [431]
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3 June 2020
Children and COVID-19 [432]
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 18 May 2020
Netherlands wants to fully open primary schools before the summer [433]
The Brussels Times, 23 April 2020
Europe begins going back to school: France and Holland become latest countries to reopen classrooms, with young children to return in small groups from May 11 [434]
Daily Mail, 22 April 2020
Netherlands will open primary schools in May: Other lockdown measures continue [435]
NL Times, 21 April 2020
Norway
Re-opened child care on April 20, 2020
0.6% of children in Norway test positive for the coronavirus [436]
The Local, 21 May 2020
Opening schools has not rekindled epidemic in Norway, say authorities [437]
The Local, 11 May 2020
‘I wasn’t sure of the kids’ safety’: How parents felt about Norway’s kindergarten opening [438]
The Local, 24 April 2020
Nursery, but not as they knew it ... Norway adjusts to life after lockdown [439]
The Guardian, 24 April 2020
Oslo kindergartens will open again [440]
City of Oslo, 17 April 2020
Pack lunches and no toys from home: New rules for Norway’s kindergartens [441]
The Local, 20 April 2020
Kindergarten reopening and COVID-19 [Video] [442]
Bydel Bjerke, 20 April 2020
Updated: What you need to know about Norway’s kindergarten reopening [443]
The Local, 15 April 2020
Portugal
All child care centres closed. Wage compensation for parents not at work.
Scotland
Schools and nurseries in Scotland and Wales will close as of March 20th, 2020
Reopening childcare safely [444]
Scottish Government, 15 June 2020
Sweden
Neither schools nor child care are consistently closed.
UK
Schools and nurseries in Scotland and Wales will close as of March 20th, 2020
Schools and nurseries in the UK-England will be close das of March 20th, 2020
Schools in Northern Ireland are due to shut Monday, March 23rd, 2020.
Activism, autonomy and identities: Stories from early childhood educators [445]
British Educational Research Associations
UK working mothers are 'sacrificial lambs' in coronavirus childcare crisis [446]
The Guardian, 24 July 2020
Don’t build roads, open schools [447]
The Atlantic, 30 June 2020
Early years and childcare sector at risk of collapse in England [448]
The Guardian, 1 June 2020
Education secretary uses Danish schools example to fend off union criticism [449]
Personnel Today, 14 May 2020
Coronavirus: Some childminders in England can reopen [450]
BBC, 13 May 2020
United States
Child care closures/ re-openings are managed by state governments. There is no definitive answer on the status of child care in the US.
Coronavirus prompts child-care providers to call it quits [451]
Los Angeles Times, 22 August 2020
Pandemic widened Boston’s child care gap [452]
WGBH, 12 August 2020
Daycare workers worry they're being asked to do too much for kids with distance learning assignments [453]
ABC 10, 12 August 2020
Joe Biden's plan for universal preschool forgets key to children's success: Parents. [454]
USA Today, 3 August 2020
US: What are parents doing for child care? Here are 3 options (with trade-offs) [455]
NPR, 31 July 2020
Child care is broken. Biden has a plan to fix it. [456]
Vox, 24 July 2020
How the child care crisis will distort the economy for a generation
Politico, 23 July 2020
California allowing kids in classrooms - for day care [457]
Times Herald, 22 July 2020
Opinion: Elizabeth Warren: To fight the pandemic, here’s my must-do list [458]
The New York Times, 21 July 2020
Can essential child care during Covid-19 offer a model to schools this fall? [459]
CNN, 20 July 2020
NYC plans child care for 100,000 kids when schools partially reopen [460]
Politico, 16 July 2020
Advocating for child care during and after a pandemic [461]
Child Care Exchange, July 2020
The coronavirus pandemic child care crisis, in 11 numbers [462]
Vox, 16 July 2020
Why it took so long for politicians to treat the child care crisis as a crisis [463]
FiveThirtyEight, 16 July 2020
LA and San Diego Schools to Go Online-Only in The Fall [464]
The New York Times, 13 June 2020
There is no essential work without child care [465]
Dissent, 8 July 2020
COVID-19 planning considerations: Guidance for school re-entry [466]
American Pediatric Association, July 2020
University of Minnesota child care research finds urban-rural divide, including in Northland [467]
Duluth News Tribune, 3 July 2020
Parents can’t wait around forever [468]
The Atlantic, 2 July 2020
Opinion: Child care is essential to reopening the economy [469]
CNN, 2 July 2020
Under the same roof, for better and for worse [470]
Rapid Assessment of Pandemic Impact on Development Early Childhood Household Survey Project, 16 June 2020
Why kids rarely fall sick with COVID-19 revealed in new research [471]
MSN lifestyle, 12 June 2020
Time’s up: Child care providers are not America’s mammy [472]
The Grio, 12 June 2020
America’s child care system Is in crisis. Joe Biden will soon release a plan to fix it. [473]
Mother Jones, 12 June 2020
COVID-19 pandemic adds further stress to an already overwhelmed local child care industry [474]
Greeley Tribune, 7 June 2020
With caution and creativity, day cares prepare to reopen [475]
The New York Times, 2 June 2020
Should the child care industry get a bail-out? [476]
New York Times, 27 May 2020
Opinion: Without child care, there’s no recovery [477]
New York Times - Opinion Today, 20 May 2020
Affordable child care is increasingly difficult to find in the U.S.—coronavirus could make it harder [478]
CNBC, 15 May 2020
Is day care safe during the coronavirus pandemic? It depends. Here are some guidelines. [479]
USA Today, 18 May 2020
Commentary: Universal child care was provided during World War II. We need it again during this pandemic — and beyond [480]
Chicago Tribune, 30 April 2020
Australia and New Zealand
Quality child care can help rebuild our economy [481]
The Australian, 13 August 2020
Cheaper childcare could boost economy by $11b a year: Grattan Institute [482]
The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 August 2020
Childcare centre brace for cutbacks [483]
The Australian, 5 August 2020
Now would be a good time to admit Australia’s childcare system is not fit for purpose [484]
The Guardian, 4 August 2020
Melbourne childcare providers say they need urgent clarity and support from government Australia news [485]
The Guardian, 4 August 2020
Why there should be no place for profit in early childhood education [486]
Stuff, 31 July 2020
Australia’s childcare centres struggle to pay up to $9,000 for Covid-19 cleaning [487]
The Guardian, 26 July 2020
Australian business groups warn of coming cliff when free childcare and jobkeeper end [488]
The Guardian, 24 June 2020
Extending free childcare could fuel huge boost to economy, report says [489]
The Guardian, 24 June 2020
Free childcare ends as tax refunds start rolling out to millions of Australians [490]
The Guardian, 12 June 2020
Snapping back to the childcare subsidy method is nuts. It should not be a system that profits [491]
The Guardian, 20 May 2020
Large pay bump for early childhood teachers in pre-budget announcement [492]
Stuff.co.nz, 11 May 2020
‘Free childcare has been amazing’: Australian parents hope pandemic may pave way for reform [493]
The Guardian, 10 May 2020
Forget flowers and chocolates for Mother’s Day: Keep free childcare going instead [494]
The Conversation, 7 May 2020
COVID-19: ECEC needs urgent and tough COVID-19 rules, Union says, releasing plan [495]
The Sector, 26 March 2020
COVID-19: United Workers Union ECEC rules to stop spread of COVID-19 [496]
United Workers Union & Big Steps Campaign, 25 March 2020
Emergency child care for essential workers
Some provinces and territories are providing emergency child care services for essential workers.
The information below is compiled of news articles and government releases regarding eligibility and application procedures.
We have also compiled a list of the health and safety guidelines for emergency child care centres [497] across Canada.
Ontario offers emergency child care to more frontline staff [498]
Government of Ontario, 17 April 2020
Ontario protects parents during COVID-19 [499]
Government of Ontario, 10 April 2020
Manitoba provides update on child-care options for families during COVID-19 response [500]
Government of Manitoba, 9 April 2020
Emergency child-care services for essential workers [501]
City of Ottawa, 3 April 2020
Expanded child care for essential workers [502]
Government of Alberta, 01 April 2020
Province outlines next steps for children and students [503]
Government of PEI, 31 March 2020
COVID-19: Emergency daycare services [504]
Government of Quebec, 31 March 2020
COVID-19: Child care for health care and frontline staff [505]
Government of Ontario, 31 March 2020
COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency childcare centres [506]
Government of Ontario, 29 March 2020
COVID-19: List of workers eligible for emergency child care [507]
City of Toronto, 28 March 2020
COVID-19: Child care for essential workers [508]
City of Toronto, 28 March 2020
COVID-19: Provincial government permitting regulated child care services for essential workers [509]
Government of Newfoundland, 25 March 2020
COVID-19: AB: Child care for core service worker [510]
Government of Alberta, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: ON: Ontario to open select child care centres across the province [511]
Government of Ontario, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: ON: List of workers eligible for emergency child care [512]
Government of Ontario, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: City of Toronto to open child care for essential and critical service workers [513]
City of Toronto, 22 March 2020
COVID-19: BC: Province supports child care providers during COVID-19 response [514]
Government of British Columbia, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Manitoba implementing $27.6-million plan to support child care for essential workers [515]
Government of Manitoba, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Child care options for health workers and other pandemic response worker [516]
Government of Saskatchewan, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: UK: Parents with these jobs can continue to send their children to school [404]
SkyNews, 20 March 2020
COVID-19: Emergency school based daycare services [517]
Government of Quebec, 17 March 2020
COVID-19: NB: COVID-19: Essential service workers can still obtain child care services [518]
Government of New Brunswick, 16 March 2020
Health and safety guidelines for emergency child care
This section provides the health and safety guidelines/protocols for emergency child care operating across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note: Health and safety guidelines/ protocols for emergency child care centres are currently not being updated. Some of these links may no longer be active.
In addition to the CRRU chart, see the Canadian Child Care Federation drop-box, for more health and safety guidelines and protocol documents for ELCC programs/providers.
COVID-19: Protocol for emergency child care plan during COVID-19 pandemic
Compass ELC, 28 March 2020
Newfoundland and Labrador
Essential services child care policy [519]
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 26 March 2020
Nova Scotia
N/A
New Brunswick
N/A
Prince Edward Island
N/A
Quebec
Directives de santé publique à l’intention des éducatrices des services de garde d’urgence à l’enfance/ Public health guidelines for daycare educators Child Emergency Services [520]
Gouvernement du Québec, 22 March 2020
Ideas and practices suggested by childcare services as part of their pandemic service continuity plans [521]
Government of Quebec, 2007
L'association québécoise des CPE: Les Informations à jour [522]
Association québécoise des CPE, 23 March 2020
Ontario
UPDATED: COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency childcare centres [523]
Government of Ontario, 8 May 2020
Home-based child care operating guidelines for COVID-19
Eastern Ontario Health Unit, 14 April 2020
COVID-19 Response: New guidelines for provincial programs - Child care and LTC, Memo
City of Ottawa, 3 April 2020
Manitoba
COVID-19: Practice guidance [524]
Government of Manitoba, 30 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Manitoba early learning and child care practice guidance [525]
Government of Manitoba, 27 March 2020
Saskatchewan
Information for licensed child care facilities [526]
Government of Saskatchewan, 22 March 2020
Alberta
COVID-19 Response: Conditions for re-opening select licensed child care centres [527]
Government of Alberta, March 2020
British Columbia
COVID 19: Public health guidance for childcare settings [528]
Government of British Columbia, 24 March 2020
Nunavut
N/A
Northwest Territories
N/A
Yukon
Public Health Guidance: Enhanced measures at Yukon child care facilities during the COVID-19 crisis [529]
Government of Yukon, May 2020