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On March 1, Unifor began a countdown to the end of the month when the Ontario government must sign an agreement with the federal government to provide affordable, accessible, quality child care throughout the province, or forfeit the first year of funding.
“It is unconscionable that we are here today, waiting until the very last minute for Premier Ford to provide an overwhelmingly popular and much-needed program to Ontario families,” said Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director. “Every other premier, no matter their political stripe, has signed the child care deal and in many cases have already substantially reduced parent fees. There is no good reason for the Ontario government to wait any longer.”
After repeated calls and contact by Unifor members and countless other individuals and groups, Premier Ford has refused to budge, telling media he wants the “same” fewer-strings-attached deal Quebec is getting.
“Quebec has long been a leader in providing affordable child care while Ontario families pay some of the highest fees in the country – so for Premier Ford to equate the two provinces and claim any similarity in their approach is at best wishful thinking and at worst downright deceitful,” said Tracey Ramsey, Women’s Department Director. “This is not an opportunity for Ontario to fill its coffers, it’s a lifeline for overburdened child care workers and families with young children.”
Ontario must sign a deal with the federal government before March 31, 2022, or it will lose $1.2 billion for the first year of the program.
“Premier Ford claims he doesn’t want to get the short end of the stick, but his delays will only leave parents and caregivers on the hook,” said Ramsey. “We are watching every day pass without action and we are demanding Premier Ford negotiate in good faith now to secure a child care plan for Ontario families and early childhood educators.”
