ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCIATION
OPSBA welcomes federal-provincial child care agreement – good news for children and families

The Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) welcomes the announcement of a federal-provincial deal to provide Ontarians with $10-a-day child care, and 86,000 new spaces, by 2026.

OPSBA and its member boards have long advocated for high quality, affordable and accessible child care programs for children and their families. These programs are a necessity for millions of Ontarians and benefit a strong economy.

"We thank the federal and provincial governments for getting this deal done. Now, more than ever, given these unusual and uncertain times, child care is foundational to our economy and a vital service for many families, including those of school board staff," said Cathy Abraham, OPSBA President. "It is clear that a lack of child care options has disproportionally affected parental participation in the workforce, particularly for women. When fully implemented, today's funding will provide more parents than ever with the option of entering the workforce."

Ontario's public schools maintain thousands of successful partnerships with their local community providers, including licensed child care, whose presence is in more than half of our schools. Public schools are also the site for many before-and-after-school care options. These child care options require a system to be affordable and responsive to parents' needs by allowing them options that fit their family circumstances. This additional funding from the federal government will allow for greater affordability in coming years.

OPSBA supports provincial and federal government investments in a universal child care program that provides equity of access and opportunity for all children and youth. This type of program not only supports the economy, but provides an important strategy to improve the social determinants of health, school readiness and ultimately success for all children, both in school and in life.

"Our Association, along with schools and school boards, looks forward to playing our part in the implementation of this new program," President Abraham said.