Support Ontario’s Workforce
by Expanding Access to Child Care
The Issue:
Working parents need access to affordable and high-quality child care in order to get to work each day. But while demand for licensed spaces is skyrocketing, workforce and space shortages are limiting access.
Key Facts:
YMCAs provide nearly 1/5th of Ontario's licensed child care spaces (77, 000+ spaces across 800+ locations). Ontario faces a projected shortage of ~8,500 Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) by 2026.
Recommendations:
Expand Licensed Spaces: Provide capital expansion funding to non-profit providers to reduce waitlists.
Introduce a Compensation Grid: Align Early Childhood Educator (ECE) wages with qualifications and experience to improve retention.
Enable the Recruitment of Newcomer Early Childhood Educators: Prioritize early childhood education as an in-demand profession and recognize home country credentials.
Support Children with Special Needs: Fund specialized staff and direct operator supports to ensure all children can participate. Reduce Administrative Burden: Provide clear, consistent guidelines to municipalities and direct more resources toward service delivery.