NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe would like to thank licensed child-care providers across Simcoe County who took the time to learn more about the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan.
Over the last six months licensed operators attended multiple information sessions hosted by the County of Simcoe, as well as sessions offered by the Ministry of Education, and also reached out to have one-on-one discussions with county staff. Through these opportunities, we worked to address the many questions and concerns that were brought forward about how the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan would impact each program. The Ministry of Education updated the 2022 CWELCC guidelines to address key concerns raised by operators and service system managers earlier in the process, and provided further information about 2023 funding guidelines so that licensed child-care operators could make informed decisions ahead of the Nov. 1, 2022 application deadline.
As of the application deadline, 173 applications were received from licensed child-care operators across the county who wished to opt in to the program, approximately 87 per cent of all licensed child-care providers in the region. The County of Simcoe is committed to continuing to work with those who have opted out, and note that there will be opportunities in future years to opt in to the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan.
Families with children under the age of six, attending eligible programs, will see their child-care fees reduced by approximately 25 per cent per day retroactive to April 1, and will experience further reduced child-care costs in the future. Children in Simcoe County and across the province, will have greater access to affordable, high-quality child care.
The Government of Canada has identified child care as a national priority to enhance early learning and childhood development, support workforce participation and contribute to economic recovery.
Funding under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement will be used to build and leverage the success of Ontario’s existing early learning and child-care system by increasing quality, accessibility, affordability and inclusivity in early learning and child care.
In its role as service manager, the county is responsible for co-ordinating enrolment for licensed child-care centres and for the administration of all related funding allocations to participating licensed child-care operators.
For more information and details, please refer to the 2022 Ministry of Education guidelines for the CWELCC program and the amendment to the guidelines (amendment issued as of Aug. 17, 2022).
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