Ontario education minister says province is negotiating for more child-care money from federal government

Ontario’s education minister, Stephen Lecce, says the province wants a child-care deal with the federal government. 

Lecce says the province is negotiating for more money and that Ottawa contributes 2.5 per cent of Ontario’s child-care costs. He says it is not enough. 

“We have made the case to the feds and we’re going to do so with great emphasis over the coming days that the program they’ve offered us unfortunately does not provide a fair deal for Ontario families and for people who want child care to yes be affordable but more importantly to be accessible for the next decade to come,” said Lecce.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced a child-care deal today. 

Seven other provinces and one territory have made deals with the federal government on its $30 billion, five-year child-care plan. The plan promises to cut fees to an average of $10 per day across Canada.

Lecce says a good deal for Ontario is on the horizon, but any deal must take into account Ontario’s full-day kindergarten program, which is funded by provincial taxpayers.