Free childcare for kids aged 2.5 to 5 is coming to Ontario in 2020

Free preschool is coming to Ontario. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced today that full-day licensed child care will become free for preschool children from the age of 2.5 until they are eligible to start kindergarten, beginning in 2020.

Free preschool child care will save families an estimated $17,000 per child, allow parents to go back to work when they choose, and help give children the best start in life.

Early learning has been demonstrated to improve a child’s academic performance throughout their lives. Improved access to child care gives parents, especially women, more choice about when they return to work, and will help Ontario close the gender wage gap. “Not being able to find or afford childcare is stressful, it is troubling, and it is holding families back at a time when it’s already hard enough to get ahead,” said Premier Wynne. “Our plan … will relieve that pressure and make sure kids are learning and growing in a safe environment. We listened to parents, educators and childcare providers across the province, and they’ve told us this move is the right one to make.”

She continued: “I know how stressful it can be for parents with young children. When my three kids were little, I worried about whether they were getting the right start. This investment will make life more affordable for families and allow more parents to make the choice to go back to work, knowing their child is safe and cared for.”

“Free childcare for preschool aged children is an incredible support for Ontario children and families. Ontario is committed to creating a high quality child care system that is accessible and affordable for all families,” said Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care Indira Naidoo-Harris.

Ontario is making an overall new investment of $2.2 billion over three years in child care, which includes more than $930 million in 2020-2021 to make licensed preschool child care free for kids from the age of 2.5 until they are eligible for kindergarten, beginning in September 2020. To support the expansion of quality, licensed child care, Ontario will also be introducing a wage grid for all program staff working in the early years and child care sector in April 2020 that will ensure their compensation is more closely aligned with early childhood educators working in full-day kindergarten.

Further, a two-year, $30 million innovation fund will seek solutions to chronic issues in child care, including ways to extend child care hours to ease anxiety and stress for parents who work long hours, shifts or are in precarious work situations.

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