I had no idea this all was going on in Ontario, but it's very interesting. I'll be watching to see what happens....I'm in Alberta and things seem to follow closely at times. I was with an agency, and now have left and been private for over a year. I took all my families with me, and they have all commented that they prefer me as a private business as opposed to their dealings with the agency. For example, one parent found them difficult around year end receipts - the agency said that they would not mail them out and parents had to pick up receipts at the office, which is only open 8-5....umm, parents all work during that time, that's why they use a dayhome! I also personally had some issues with the ridiculous rules the agency had in place around some of the home check items when they did their monthly visits, this ultimately led to me leaving the agency....and agency officials emailed all the parents telling them they would be better off staying with an "approved" caregiver rather than staying with me! IMO, being "approved" by an agency doesn't make you any better of a caregiver, I am a well educated adult who has chosen to run her own business. Providing quality care to children is not my only job, I also complete home assessments for individuals who wish to adopt, foster or provide other care to children. I maintain membership with the Alberta College of Social Workers, pay my fees, complete my continuing education....I would do all of that with my dayhome business as well if that was an option. But, I will not go back to an agency; they took $65 per child per month off my fees, and I got nothing out of the arrangement during my year with them - I advertised on my own and found all my own families, all of whom are still with me three years later. The only restriction we have as a private dayhome here in Alberta is that we can have six children in our care plus our own. This has not been an issue for me, however if they were to start putting in the age/ratio restrictions it would cause some havoc. Personally, I find it quite manageable to provide care to my group of 2 one year olds, 2 two year olds, and two three year olds; but this would not fly at all under agency restrictions.