fees

Ontario’s Education Minister is banking on federal funding to bring child care fees in Ontario down to $10 a day.

The province recently signed a new four-year deal with the federal government that comes with $12 billion for child care.

Child care fees are sitting at $19 a day, capped at $22 a day and will not change at least until next June.

Paul Calandra says he supports lower fees, but it needs to come with the federal funding to make it happen.

“If they provide the funding for $10 a day, then we will ensure that our service providers and families get $10 a day,” says Calandra.

“If they don’t provide the funding for $10 a day, then they will, as they have, decide what the fees are going to be for families in the province of Ontario. So, we are administering it on their behalf using their funds.”

Calandra does give credit to Federal Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hadju with the new agreement.

“She recognized that there was a massive shortcoming in the program, and she deserves the credit for going back to her Prime Minister and her government and getting the additional funding that we have today.”