Investment will help make child care more accessible for families across the city
LONDON — The Ontario government is expanding licensed child care spaces in the City of London by investing $62.3 million in 2023 to support the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. The funding will help create an additional 2,889 licensed child care spaces enrolled in the CWELCC system in Ontario in the City of London by 2026, representing a 28 per cent increase of new spaces for children aged zero to five in the community. These new spaces are on top of the 9,092 spaces enrolled in the CWELCC system in the City of London last year.
“We are delivering savings directly to families while increasing access to child care spaces for families across London,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “Our government believes that child care should not be the cost of a mortgage payment, which is why we have already reduced child care fees by 50 per cent on average and continue to deliver on our commitment to build new child care spaces in areas that need them most.” These new spaces will be affordable for families already benefiting from a significant reduction of child care fees by 50 per cent on average. Families are saving an annual average of $6,000 to $10,000 per child.
“Access to affordable child care should not be optional,” said Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “For too long, families have faced high monthly child care fees, long waitlists and a lack of child care options. Every time a new space is created, we are bridging the gap for families, and delivering on our promise as a government for an affordable, flexible and inclusive Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system.” Ontario remains committed to the success of the CWELCC system and will continue to work with municipalities and the sector to ensure affordable child care is available in communities where it is needed most.