NEWS RELEASE
ANDREA KHANJIN, BARRIE-INNISFIL MPP
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Ontario took action today to temporarily prevent child-care centres from collecting payments from parents, while also ensuring that their child-care spaces are protected.
Ontario had previously ordered child-care centres, except for those accommodating health-care and other front-line workers, closed to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep children and child-care staff safe.
Under the emergency order issued today, any child-care operator is prevented from charging parent fees where care is not being provided. The order also means that parents cannot lose their child-care space because they are not paying fees during this period.
“I have heard from many parents and grandparents in Barrie and Innisfil about facing a choice between either paying for child care that they aren’t receiving and losing a child-care space that they value,” said Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil.
“Many parents are facing reduced income or have been laid off as a result of the pandemic,” continued MPP Khanjin. “Today’s action will relieve some of the financial pressure that COVID-19 has put on parents.”
The child-care sector, like many others, is facing significant financial pressures. Child-care providers can seek supports for businesses and individuals under the federal government’s Economic Response Plan.
“We are defending the interests of consumers and protecting parents’ hard-earned money by ordering child care centres to stop charging fees for services not rendered,” said Minister Stephen Lecce. “From protecting health and safety, to jobs and incomes, we will do whatever it takes to get our province and our incredibly resilient people through this.”
The Ontario government will continue to work with the child-care sector and federal, municipal and First Nations partners on a plan to ensure the sustainability of the sector during the outbreak.
QUICK FACTS
- Child-care centres have been ordered to close through a provincial Emergency Order.
- Some child-care centres that are providing child care for health-care and other front-line workers, and home-based child-care providers (licensed and unlicensed), are permitted to continue to operate
- Over 1 million applications have been received through Ontario’s Support for Families. The simple online application gives parents a one-time payment of $200 for each child aged 0 to 12, or $250 for children 21 years old or younger with special needs.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Ontario Enacts Declaration of Emergency to Protect the Public
- Province Takes Steps to Ensure Frontline Staff Can Continue to Work
- Learn at Home
- Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians
from COVID-19
Andrea Khanjin is the MPP for Barrie–Innisfil, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Deputy Government House Leader.
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