Grey County council received an update about an Early Years and Child Care funding grant of $441,000 it’s receiving from the Ontario government.
A report was brought to council during their committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 13, when it was identified the allocation for the early years and child care sector will remain unchanged from 2021.
The one-time grant from the ministry was given to help support child care programs and services and operating costs related to Covid like reduced capacity, enhanced cleaning, and PPE.
County Warden Selwyn Hicks says, “It’s good news, it means we have a budget we can rely on that is equal to last year but I think the province is recognizing that we have had some additional challenges due to Covid and $400,000 will go a long way towards addressing those additional costs.”
Hicks says the provincial government has allocated funds to various programs and supports, these include $8.7 million for child care, which supports the delivery of funding and programs to the licensed child care sector through general operating grants, child care fee subsidies, special needs resourcing, and capacity building.
Over $1.1 million has been allocated to EarlyON which provide families with access to programs, supports and resources across Canada.
Over $615,000 has been allocated to the Child Care and Early Years Workforce. This is new for 2022 and it was consulted with service providers and community partners to create a flexible and responsive strategy to support local needs.
Over $72,000 has been allocated to Indigenous-Led Child Care and Child and Family Programs in Grey County. The EarlyON program is working with the M’wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre and is providing resources to the early learning communities across Grey County.
“The impact is that we are able to maintain child care. Child care has been a particular struggle during the pandemic because when schools are closed of course people are looking towards child care to pick up the slack and we are in a position where we have to look at priorities so like first responders and hospital workers to make sure those essential workers have child care so they can do the work that is essential to address Covid,” says Hicks.
