Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

[gravy_train]

So how are you guys addressing parents concerns over these proposed changes? I had one family texting me about it at 8pm yesterday (which I will have to address separately)!

[treeholm]

I am hoping to find out how soon these changes would be expected to take effect before I have to let parents know they need to find alternate care... I am worried that they will find out about it on the news first, and then I will have no choice but to tell them that if the legislation is approved, I will no longer be able to care for their children... I have a great relationship with my parents, and they chose me for very specific reasons like organic food and the fact that I am a grandma. They do not want to go to a daycare centre, nor are there spaces available anyway....

[crafty]

I just cant believe this ! It's stressing me out. Here I was planning my openings and options for 2014 and now ... after these possible age restrictions I may be forced to closed. I've been opened for only 2 years and the first year was rough financially ... I am still struggling to make up for that first year even with a full daycare now. There is no way I can afford only to care for 3 children and there is no incentive for me to go with the agency in my area. The pay is lesser and I have a pool so I am not even sure I would get a license with them ... Ok if I have to the pool will go but even if I would get licensed they take such a big cut for only one more child allowed it would not make much difference. And I am good darn it ! I am a kick ass daycare provider and I DONT want to DO anything else. I LOVE MY JOB AND MY KIDS !! Arg ! So frustrating and stressful !! Definitely will try to get my voice heard !!

[gravy_train]

I feel in my heart like I should start telling parents to be prepared and start looking for alternate care but that would be a financial disaster for me as I would obviously like to hold onto the income I have for as long as possible.

[crafty]

As for my parents, I told them that I am working on a solution that will hopefully work out for everyone but I still don't know where to go. I need to know when this will be in affect. They are very concerned as one was hoping to enroll her 2nd baby with me this summer and another family is expecting and are afraid to loose a their spot with me. I would love to just keep status quo until both my children are in school.

[treeholm]

Yup, this is stressful for sure. I feel that ethically, I need to let my parents know they need to keep an eye on this issue, but knowing that I will close if it passes, they really need to find alternate care as soon as they can... which would not be good for me. But if they find out through the media and not through me, I'll look dishonest... sigh...

[pink]

You are absolutely right, the rate they pay for licensed home daycare in my city is 30.00 per day. Most of the un-licensed daycare charge 35.00. I find the rate low in this neighborhood. There will be a lot of families without childcare. I would make more money in returning to work.

[gravy_train]

Well that's exactly it for me too Treeholm. I was planning on closing June 2014 anyway but was not going to tell my parents until 3 months before. I think I will start putting some money away now in case there is a month or two gap between my anticipated closing date and when I actually have to close.

[treeholm]

I have decided that because my clients are wonderful people who trust me, and whom I hope to keep as friends, I am morally required to tell them to keep an eye on the legislation and do what is best for them. Sigh.... not looking forward to these conversations, but at least they won't be angry later that I didn't tell them as soon as I found out. If it doesn't pass, I'm sure they won't leave me, but they need to be prepared. I will wait the rest of this week to get more info on anticipated timelines, but on Monday, I will tell my families that if it passes in its current form, I will be closing.

[playfelt]

Someone posted a copy of the actual act on facebook. Note this section looks like they have addressed the ratios just forgot to mention that part or at least that is all I can find in the act relating to ages and stages.

unlicensed child care, five children or less
2. The child care provided at the premises meets the following criteria:
services de garde non agréés : maximum de cinq enfants
2. Les services de garde fournis dans le local remplis-sent les critères suivants :
i. The child care is provided for no more than five children or, if a lesser number is pre-scribed by the regulations, no more than the prescribed number of children.
i. Les services de garde sont fournis pour au maximum cinq enfants ou le nombre inférieur prescrit par les règlements, le cas échéant.
ii. There is no agreement between a home child care agency and the child care provider that provides for the agency’s oversight of the provision of care.
ii. Le fournisseur de services de garde n’a pas conclu d’entente avec une agence de services de garde en milieu familial prévoyant que celle-ci supervise la prestation des services.
iii. The group of children does not include more than two children who are younger than two years old.

The entire act can be viewed here and a pdf is available for saving.

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bil...etail_the_bill