Childcare right across our region is getting a major boost, in a joint effort between municipalities, the province and Ottawa.
Ontario education minister Stephen announced details at a news conference at the Timmins YMCA.
“The District of Cochrane will be receiving $7.9-million, which will include 189 net new licenced spaces to be created by the year 2026,” he stated, “which overall represents a nearly 12% increase from where we were at.”
Lecce says the move towards $10-a-day childcare has already resulted in parents in this area experiencing a 50% fee decrease. That, he says, amounts to between $6,000 and $12,000 per year per child.
The chair of the Cochrane District Social Services Board – Timmins mayor Michelle Boileau – applauds the participation of the three levels of government.
“Of course, there is a need in many of the communities in the Cochrane District,” she said at the news conference. “There are some communities that are struggling with childcare that don’t have childcare spaces at the moment.”
Minister Lecce says although the funding is until 2026, that’s when the governments can come together to extend it.