Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

[sunnydays]

This is what is happening today in legislature (it looks as though they really are trying to push it through fast):
CHILD CARE CENTRES

Mr. Steven Del Duca: My question today is for the Minister of Education. I was pleased to learn yesterday about the steps that our government is taking to strengthen oversight of the province’s unlicensed child care sector while increasing access to licensed child care options for families.

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I’m even more pleased to learn that our government has placed a priority on reforming a piece of legislation that hasn’t been reviewed in 30 years. Over the last year, we’ve all seen heartbreaking tragedy in my community of Vaughan within the unlicensed sector. I understand that much of the proposed legislation is aimed at addressing oversight within the unlicensed sector that could help prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

Speaker, through you to the minister, can she please describe how this legislation will improve and strengthen oversight in this sector?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for Vaughan for raising this important issue.

The member is absolutely correct. This legislation is overdue for a comprehensive update. That is why, well over a year ago, we began to consult with parents and stakeholders on how to update the legislation.

I’m proud of the legislation which was tabled yesterday in this House and which, if passed, will improve oversight in the unlicensed sector. If passed, it will allow the province to immediately shut down a child care provider when a child’s safety is at risk. It would give the province the authority to issue administrative penalties of up to $100,000 per infraction by a child care provider. It would also increase the maximum penalty for illegal offences under the act from $2,000 in the current act to $250,000 in the new act. It would increase the number of children a licensed home-based child care provider can care for from five to six, and it would require all private schools that care for children under four to have a licence.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Steven Del Duca: I thank the minister for her response. I also know that our government has already taken steps to improve the oversight of child care. These include a dedicated enforcement team to investigate complaints against unlicensed providers and the development of an online searchable database of validated complaints.

Speaker, through you to the minister, can the minister please share with this House why this piece of legislation is critical and why it needs to move through our legislative process as quickly as possible?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Another excellent question from the member from Vaughan.

As the member pointed out in the previous question, the current piece of legislation that governs child care, the Day Nurseries Act, was enacted in 1946 and has not been comprehensively updated since 1983. Speaker, that’s 30 years ago. The legislation does not reflect the current needs of our children and parents.

The Child Care Modernization Act would help transform the child care and early years system to better meet the needs of both the parents who use and rely on the system and the children who are placed in its care.

Speaker, I was pleased to hear yesterday from both parties in the House their acknowledgement and understanding of the importance of this legislation. Both of them seem to think we need this legislation quickly, and I hope they will both support and help us to pass the legislation quickly.

[sunnydays]

I took that directly from the legislature website this morning. It is not looking good for us in my opinion.

[Wonderwiper]

Ah good times!!!!

As some of you know....all my daycare kids are under 2 plus I have my own dd under 2 and my dd 3.

Now, I am lucky that my income pays for our extras and we are ok without it because I will have to ditch most of my dck.

I know many of us feel hopeless but aren't really able to rally etc. It takes a few seconds to email every opposition MP as well as media outlets. I just did so using copy and paste!!!

Maybe if enough inboxes are full of the same concerns then someone will notice.

[treeholm]

I just sent this to my Liberal MPP

Hello xxx,
I need to express my serious concerns about the daycare legislation currently being proposed by the Liberals. I am all for improving the safety of our children and grandchildren, but there is an important piece of information being left out.
Home daycares usually choose to remain unregistered because of the requirement that registered daycares adhere to ratios of having no more than 2 children under two. Unregistered daycares are permitted no more than 5 children, plus their own, but can have whatever ages they want as long as they remain within the limits of 5 children plus their own.
The Liberals are proposing that unregistered daycares be forced to adhere to those ratios in order to removed the financial incentive to remain unregistered. I understand that... but what will happen to the thousands of one year olds who will immediately lose their daycare spot? For example, I have one friend who has two little ones of her own, plus 5 children under two. She will now have to FIRE four families. They cannot go to registered daycares, because there are no spots for one year olds since the registered daycares already have to follow the "no more than 2 under 2 rule". They can't go to daycare centres, because the spots for one year olds are very limited there as well, due to the high cost of having one year olds. Everyone will be looking for 2 and 3 year olds for their daycares. Home daycares are already suffering because the four year olds have gone to full day Kindergarten. I can't see anyone addressing this in the media. Parents want safer daycares (of course) so think this is a great idea. When I point out to them that if their child is under two, they may very well be fired from their current daycare, they are shocked. They have often spent months during their mat leaves finding a wonderful daycare for their child, and now they will suddenly be told they cannot return to the daycare if this legislation takes effect. Please address this issue with the minister!
Thank you,
my name

[Wonderwiper]

Treeholm...that's similar to what I have been sending, except that I have been sending to the opposition. The liberals are anxious to steam roll this through. It is the opposition who may listen because their job is to scrutinise everything and make their own objections.

[momofnerds]

why is it that most of the incidents happen in the toronto area. Where is the ministry to shut them down. If they can't handle all the complaints how are they going to handle it now. Why are ads on kijjiji still allowed to be there when we clearly see them violating all the rules. Why is no one visiting their homes and why isn't that site being monitored by the ministry. Small steps like this would be better than taking a huge leap. And of course they want to send it thru quickly they are being sued for 4.3 million dollars by the neglectful parent.

[Teagansmom]

why is it that most of the incidents happen in the toronto area. Where is the ministry to shut them down. If they can't handle all the complaints how are they going to handle it now. Why are ads on kijjiji still allowed to be there when we clearly see them violating all the rules. Why is no one visiting their homes and why isn't that site being monitored by the ministry. Small steps like this would be better than taking a huge leap. And of course they want to send it thru quickly they are being sued for 4.3 million dollars by the neglectful parent.

I believe that most incidents happen in the Toronto area is just because of the population.
I advertise on kijiji, so I take a little offence to that. I follow my ratios, I have a bright clean space, I offer nutritious meals, daily outings. I may not have my ECE but I'm a mom of 3 and run an educational program.

[momofnerds]

I believe that most incidents happen in the Toronto area is just because of the population.
I advertise on kijiji, so I take a little offence to that. I follow my ratios, I have a bright clean space, I offer nutritious meals, daily outings. I may not have my ECE but I'm a mom of 3 and run an educational program.

oh, yes I know alot that do advertise and are honest, but there are alot that are not. Have you seen the pics of some of the homes or the number of kids in the pics or the ones that charge 10 or 15 dollars for the whole day, come on someone needs to look into them.

[2cuteboys]

I believe that most incidents happen in the Toronto area is just because of the population.
I advertise on kijiji, so I take a little offence to that. I follow my ratios, I have a bright clean space, I offer nutritious meals, daily outings. I may not have my ECE but I'm a mom of 3 and run an educational program.

I don't think she was insinuating that everyone on kijiji is a bad provider, but you can sometimes tell when they are. When providers advertise for $2-300/month less than their competitors, it can be a red flag for sure.

[Teagansmom]

Yes I understand, I see ads everyday offering care for $100 a week, and see pictures as well.