The Ontario Federation joins the call for the Ford government to provide new provincial funding so child care operators can take the steps necessary for safe reopening across Ontario, including needed supports for educators, staff, programs, and facilities.
“Families and educators in this province are saying the government’s plan for reopening without providing critical funding, time for consultation, preparation or training does nothing to ensure that child care centres can reopen safely,” said Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates. “Now is the time for the government to have a plan, and that plan must be to provide publicly-funded, publicly-run child care in Ontario.”
A government announcement June 9th did not allocate any new funding for child care centres to implement new, enhanced health and safety measures. In May, the Ford Government announced that it would claw back provincial grants that many operators are using to retain skilled staff.
“Parents in Ontario already pay the highest childcare fees in the country. With many operators on the brink of collapse, unless the government steps in to support child care in this province, parents will be paying higher fees for the few spaces that remain,” said Coates. “The Ford government’s pandemic response is making it more difficult for parents to have confidence that the province is doing all it can to ensure the safety of their children.”
A poll conducted after the government’s announcement asked more than 1100 parents and child care workers participating if they had confidence that child care centres had the support to open safely. 86% indicated they are worried that there is not proper support.
The OFL encourages all Ontarians to sign the open letter from the Ontario Child Care Coalition.
The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Meagan Perry
Director of Communications
Ontario Federation of Labour
mperry@ofl-org.flywheelsites.com l 416-894-3456
