Item - 2024.EC14.12

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2024 with an update on growth and expansion within Toronto’s licensed child care sector, ongoing implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system, and an analysis of the provincial funding formula for the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement.
 

2. City Council requests the Minister of Education to introduce a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care provincial funding formula that ensures long-term stability and viability of the child care sector through sustainable multi-year operating and capital funding, addresses workforce compensation issues and supports a thriving workforce, provides capital funding for expansion in the non-profit and public sector, and supports access and inclusion for families across the City of Toronto.

Maintaining and growing our child care system in Toronto is a key priority, as outlined in our Licensed Child Care Growth Strategy. Since the introduction of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Toronto Children’s Services has been working with operators to implement the program despite the challenges created by the program’s guidelines. 

During the implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the childcare sector has faced a number of challenges. Operators have faced uncertainty on both operating and capital funding, while disparities in workers’ wages have caused recruitment and retention challenges. Sector expansion is stalled due to inadequate investment, and a lack of clarity on the provincial funding formula has made it hard to plan for the future. It is clear that much more work is needed in order for our child care system to be accessible and inclusive for everyone. 

The City of Toronto’s Economy and Community Development Committee called for a roundtable of Toronto’s child care sector to be convened to discuss these challenges, identify opportunities, and talk about how we can move forward together to build the best possible future for child care in Toronto. In this report, you’ll see the key themes identified through the roundtable’s discussions and the collective wisdom of those who are on the frontlines. 

Affordable and accessible child care helps us build a more fair city and grows our economy. The Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement also needs to be implemented in a way that is fair, sustainable, and promotes growth. This isn’t feasible without additional support from the provincial and federal governments. 

I extend my sincere thanks to all those who joined us for the roundtable, and to everyone else who has reached out in the past few months to speak up for child care in Toronto.