Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

Well it's done ! My letter is sent out .Tonight I am working on info. for my families. Thanks Treeholm for editing :)

''Dear Members of the Legislative Assembly,


As a private ''unregulated'' home daycare provider, it is with great concern I am writing to you today regarding the current proposition of BILL 143. From my understanding this bill stipulates;


1- An unlicensed home daycare quota of children allowed IN CARE allows for 5 children, INCLUDING this home daycare provider’s own children IF UNDER THE AGE OF 6. If my understanding is correct than I will have to TERMINATE CARE for one of my families as I currently care for 4 children (excluding my own). After discussing this matter with an official at the ministry, there will be no ''grace'' period or grandfather clause for children already in care. I wonder ... How many more families will be forced to take unscheduled holidays from work as their daycare provider is NO LONGER OPERATING LEGALLY? Is there a plan for these families? To whom should I refer them?


I also FAIL to see the reasoning behind this particular rule. I understand the need for safe regulations, but I've been managing and caring for 6 children between the ages of 1 and 4 for the past 2 years and I must say this is my ideal situation. The income permits me to buy quality foods, extra crafting materials, safe and new materials, and to get updated training in CPR or other classes. Also the fact that I can care for an EVEN number of children helps me pair them in age groups and monitor activities, as well as learning abilities, closely and adequately. So, how did this number 5 came into play; how was it determined to be ideal and why?


Furthermore, this will decrease my income drastically on very short notice and may actually force me out of this business. I wonder if there has been a poll taken. To just how many more families this will happen and what has been, or will be, put in place to support them?


I do agree our current system and laws require a serious and effective change. It is very sad and unacceptable that we have let so many fatal tragedies happen in private home daycares. We need better monitoring, clearer laws, rules, and guidelines. I just fail to see this particular one actually making a positive difference. Did most of these fatal tragedies not happen in already ILLEGAL daycares with other safety issues than the actual current quotas? In which of these situations was a daycare fatality caused by an unlicensed daycare with the legal current number of children in care? If people seemed to be misinformed about the current law, how will the government ensure its population is aware of this new one? Only one of my families is aware of this upcoming new legislation and no later than this morning, I informed a potential client of it as well as two fellow daycare providers. Which tells me... not enough has been done to INFORM or EDUCATE or RESEARCHED


- The second issue I have with this BILL 143 is again regarding quotas. No more than 2 children under the age of 2 (I assume 24 months and under) can be cared for. This tells me that there will be a huge decrease in spaces available for children under the age of 2. If this comes to pass and is effective immediately, a lot of families will be left with no proper daycare services. Do we have a plan for these families with no childcare services? Where do I refer the clients I will need to refuse and terminate. Many schools are now offering preschool at 3.5 years old. That leaves business such as mine with very limited client prospects as well. I again fail to see how this suggestion has been determined ideal?


3- Where is the incentive to BECOME licensed. I believe these changes were put in place to make licensing more appealing to private home daycares; sorry to say that again, I fail to see it. Would we not want everyone to become licensed and monitored closely? That's how we prevent fatalities in my opinion; however, my local agencies’ policies have not changed. Although I would be allowed ONE more child, the percentage of fees taken by the agency does not cover the loss of one space. That's not even looking at unpaid vacation time, extra insurance coverage.... both of which factor in immensely. As for government licensing, the building requirements, and the zoning requirements are not feasible. I live in a rural community. My house is a century home, it has updated plumbing, and heating, etc. but was not built with the same regulations as today’s homes. The cost of renovations, I assume, would not be worth it.


What looks most appealing right now is remaining unlicensed and raising my fees drastically, which will affect local families as well.


To sum up, the future if this business looks fairly gloomy and raise lots of concerns about whether it will even be feasible anymore. I have 2 children under the age of 5 and hopefully one on the way soon; however, with the future of my main income in jeopardy I question now my decisions regarding my home daycare business and family's financial situation. I urge you to revisit this legislation and consider the pitfalls if may bring. Children safety should not be taken lightly, however do these changes really address the issue ?''

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Originally Posted by torontokids

I was also thinking about alerting parents on my waitlist so they know there may not be care for their infant in a yr

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I was thinking about doing this too. It could open some parents eyes.

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Originally Posted by Jilly

Hello Everyone!

I have read quite a few posts on here on this subject. Frankly, like the rest of you, this has me worried for my family and many other families! It's like a big snow ball affect, if what I'm reading is accurate? We the daycare providers will have to raise our rates considerably, in order to have only three children in our care (with the three under three ratio) and the 4 and 5 year olds in KG. Then the families in turn, will no longer be able to afford daycare?!
I read a few months back that there is very limited daycare spots in Canada as is, now they are going to implement regulations that will only allow private unlicensed daycares really only three children?! Then if again I am correct, those stay at home Mums that have children at home, have to count their own children? I'm sorry, but it's not going to work for many reasons. As most of you already know and realize, most us then will have to shut down due to not making a reasonable living, and a lot of parents will be without daycare and therefore loose their jobs?!
Why change something when it has always worked? Yes, we have few people who should never work with children and therefore should be shut down.....but like with anything else in life, you have your few bad ones...so having said that, the ministry should be able to and do come and make surprise visits, I know I had one. Therefore they should just hire more inspectors and make sure ALL day cares run well. THAT is the only answer, as I see it.
The onus was on the ministry to close that horrible unfit day care down, and they did not, when apparently they were called a few times?! Now our livelihoods have to suffer for their lack of due diligence?! It seems to me that the government is not seriously considering all the facts?! I believe we the day care providers and all the daycare parents should get actively involved in this too, to make them aware of ALL the ramifications, and if we do, and they consider everything and we ALL work together, everyone will win, especially the children who we care for! Let's stop worrying and find out what we can do, and get our day care parents involved too!
One thing I would like to mention, I saw this coming a while ago and I have spoke about how the government will try to have their hands in our pies so to speak, meaning they will likely try to make money off of us, the lil guys, let's not let that happen! Let's get involved and make a plan to get involved! The first thing any of us should be concerned about is the safety of our children that we care for, and as I have mentioned, the only solution as I see that will work is to hire more inspectors! Secondly, not to make day care more difficult for parents and for us, the well meaning day care providers who are also trying to make a living! If anyone has any ideas how we can get actively get involved, please let us know.

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Just to correct you Jilly, the new bill is for 2 under 2 not 3 under 3 as many of us originally thought.

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Originally Posted by giraffe

Love love!! You should send it everywhere

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Well said!

Ok so we are allowed 2 under 2, but then what about the rest of the 3 children? So when does this start and can we therefore have the other three children 3 and over? Sorry I find this confusing....

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Originally Posted by Jilly

Ok so we are allowed 2 under 2, but then what about the rest of the 3 children? So when does this start and can we therefore have the other three children 3 and over? Sorry I find this confusing....

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The only age limit so far is 2 under 2 for unlicensed and licensed home daycare. Unlicensed daycare can have up to 5 kids INCLUDING your own (your own will not count in the numbers if older than 6yo). Licensed HDC can have up to 6 kids including your own. Licensed HDC means that you work for an agency.

ok, not sure if this is true or not, but on the one site they said we may be able to grandfather in our kids (sorry dck's) if we have contracts with them with no end dates. Its the facebook site, so just incase make sure all your contracts are up to date and anyone signing kids for next year, get them to sign this year, you never know.

Well said!

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Originally Posted by momofnerds

ok, not sure if this is true or not, but on the one site they said we may be able to grandfather in our kids (sorry dck's) if we have contracts with them with no end dates. Its the facebook site, so just incase make sure all your contracts are up to date and anyone signing kids for next year, get them to sign this year, you never know.

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I sure hope so but when I spoke to the ministry, this was in NO WAY an option.

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Originally Posted by Jilly

Ok so we are allowed 2 under 2, but then what about the rest of the 3 children? So when does this start and can we therefore have the other three children 3 and over? Sorry I find this confusing....

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2 under the age of two and then the other three can be 2 and up.