Summary
Today, Minister Lecce announced our government is further expanding eligibility for the targeted emergency child care program to additional workers who are performing critical roles across our economy and communities. This expansion takes effect on January 27th, and is intended to support workers and their families with child care options at no cost in regions where elementary students continue to learn remotely.
New additions to the list of those eligible for Emergency Child Care:
- Individuals working in fuel distribution and oil refineries;
- Education staff who are required to report to work in person while their children continue with remote learning;
- Grocery store and pharmacy workers;
- Truck drivers;
- Farmers and those who support food or agricultural product supply chains;
- Individuals involved in the collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste; and
- Individuals working in the manufacturing and distribution of disinfectants and sanitizers.
Constituents are able to contact their municipality or municipal service system manager to confirm if they are eligible for emergency child care.
Key Messages
- We will always stand by the frontline workers in our community that are keeping the lights on, food on the table, and our families safe.
- That is why emergency child care is being extended to more workers and their families during the period that elementary schools are only offering virtual learning.
- This temporary emergency childcare program will support those parents who cannot work from home, including, but not limited to, grocery store and pharmacy workers, those working in critical PPE manufacturing, and truck drivers, building upon the existing group that includes front-line health workers.
- This government has mandated that parent fees cannot be charged to families with school-age children who do not have access to their before and after school spaces during the period when remote learning is in place.
- Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are taking proactive and preventative action to protect schools so we can open schools safely as soon as possible.
If pressed why announce on Monday but does not take effect until Wednesday, the 27th:
- We are announcing the expansion of eligibility today so that families that we are supporting are aware who is on the expanded list and can plan accordingly for the upcoming days.
News Link
EN: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/60092/ontario-expanding-eligibility-for-emergency-child-care-during-extended-remote-learning-period
FR: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/backgrounder/60093/lontario-elargit-ladmissibilite-aux-services-de-garde-durgence-pendant-la-prolongation-de-la-periode