Ontario to provide grants for child-care centres to create spaces

Ontario is launching a $213-million grant program for child-care operators to develop new spaces.

The provincial government committed in its $10-a-day deal with the federal government in March to create 71,000 new child-care spaces by 2026. The province says progress has been made as 53,000 more spaces need to be created.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the new, one-time grants will help new and existing child-care operators cover initial costs of expanding or creating spaces, such as for renovations or purchasing equipment.

READ MORE: Last day for Ontario-child care operators to opt in to $10-a-day program

The province says the grants will be prioritized in locations with historically low rates of availability.

Lecce made an announcement Monday with federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould about fee reductions for families whose children are enrolled in licensed child-care centres that have opted in to the national program.

Families should be receiving rebates for 25 per cent on average off their fees back to April, with that increasing to 50 per cent reductions by the end of 2022.

READ MORE: $10/day child care program: daycare owners have yet to see the details of the agreement