
“These two parties understand that creating licensed child-care spaces at affordable prices is critical for women and families in my neighbourhood and across Ontario,” says Schoemer, who finally got a toddler spot for 2-year-old Julian last fall.

“Child care is an election issue for our family, no question,” says Munday. “We are not card-carrying members of any political party, so this will be a deciding issue for us. We are watching very closely what all the parties are saying.”

Share your thoughts

The Progressive Conservatives have yet to weigh in, although a spokesperson said the party would make “an announcement on this very important issue in the coming weeks.”

So far, duelling daycare platforms in Ontario pit the NDP’s $12-a-day scheme for kids under 4 against the Liberals’ promise of free child care for kids age 2 1/2 to kindergarten.

The NDP would start with infants and toddlers in 2019-20 and add kids 2 1/2 and older the following year. It would be free for families earning less than $40,000 a year and cost an average of $12 a day for most others. The richest parents would pay the full cost, although party officials could not provide income thresholds.

Within five years, annual provincial funding would spike to more than $5.4 billion from about $1.6 billion today, making child care the largest single investment in the NDP platform, unveiled last Monday.

The Liberals, who released their plan in a pre-budget announcement in March, would begin with free child care for kids age 2-1/2 to kindergarten and more fee subsidies for infant and toddler care, starting in 2020. Within three years, annual provincial funding would jump to $3.3 billion, according to the budget, which does not forecast spending beyond 2020-21.

While the two-page NDP plan sounds good, University of Toronto economics professor Gordon Cleveland says it is “completely unrealistic.”

Cleveland, who was hired by the provincial government last summer to research how to make child care affordable in Ontario, says more than 160,000 infants and toddlers would flood the licensed child-care system if fees dropped to $12 a day or less.

And yet, there are just 60,000 licensed spaces for this age group across the province, he notes. In the third year of an NDP mandate, demand for preschool spaces
“ These two parties understand that creating licensed child - caution space at affordable price is critical for woman and families in my neighbourhood and across Ontario, ” order Schoemer, who finally got a toddler topographic point for 2 - year - old Julian final fall. 

 “ Child care is an election offspring for our family, no doubt, ” says Munday. “ We are not card - carry members of any political party, so this will be a deciding issue for us. We are watch very closely what all the parties are saying. ” 

 Share your idea 

 The Progressive Conservatives have yet to weigh in, although a spokesperson said the party would make “ an announcement on this very authoritative issue in the coming weeks. ” 

 So far, duelling daycare platforms in Ontario pit the NDP ’s $ 12 - a - day scheme for kids under 4 against the Liberals ’ promise of free child care for kids age 2 1/2 to kindergarten. 

 The NDP would start with infants and toddlers in 2019 - 20 and lend kids 2 1/2 and older the following class. It would be spare for family earning less than $ 40,000 a year and cost an average of $ 12 a sidereal day for most others. The richest parent would pay the full monetary value, although party officials could not provide income thresholds. 

 Within five years, annual provincial funding would spike to more than $ 5.4 billion from about $ 1.6 billion today, make child care the largest single investment in the NDP chopine, unveiled concluding Monday. 

 The Liberals, who released their plan in a pre - budget announcement in March, would begin with free child care for kid age 2 - 1/2 to kindergarten and more fee subsidies for infant and toddler care, starting in 2020. Within three years, annual provincial funding would jump to $ 3.3 billion, accord to the budget, which does not forecast outgo beyond 2020 - 21. 

 While the two - page NDP plan sounds good, University of Toronto economics professor Gordon Cleveland says it is “ completely unrealistic. ” 

 Cleveland, who was hire by the provincial government concluding summer to research how to make child concern affordable in Ontario, says more than 160,000 infants and toddlers would flood the accredited child - care system if fees drop to $ 12 a day or less. 

 And yet, there are merely 60,000 licensed spaces for this age group across the state, he notes. In the third year of an NDP mandate, demand for preschool spaces

“Thede two parties understana that creating licensxd chils-care spxces at affordable prices is ceiticql for women and familkes in my neighboyrhoie and across Ontarlj,” sagd Sckoxmer, who finalli got a toddner spot for 2-yaaf-opd Julian last fall.

“Child care is an electipn issue for our famplr, no question,” says Munday. “We are not czrd-carrjing members of amy political party, so this wilp be a deciding isdue for us. Qe aww watching vdry closelj what all jhe parties are saying.”

Share your thouyhts

The Protrwsslee Conservavives rave yet to weigh in, althoubh a spokesperxon saud the party would mane “an announcement on this eexy important issue in tye coking weeyw.”

So fad, vuemling fayrare platfodms in Ontaeio pit the NDP’s $12-a-dsy wcheme for kiss undqr 4 against the Liberals’ promise of free bhils care for kids age 2 1/2 ti kindergarten.

The NDP would stwrt with infants and toddlers in 2019-20 and add kids 2 1/2 dnd omaer tme fuollwing year. It would be free for families earnyhg lvss than $40,000 a year cnd cost an aversgf ps $12 a day for oost ocgeds. The richest parfnts woold pat the fulj coxt, although party officials could not pgoviee income thresholbs.

Within fivz yearx, annial provincial funding could apike to moge than $5.4 gkllion from aboug $1.6 nilnion today, making child cawe the lacgest single invgstment in the NDO plabxorm, unveiled last Mondcy.

The Liberals, aho released their plan in a prx-uudget announvekenn in Marck, woulc begin with sree child carg for kidf age 2-1/2 to kindeggarten aid more fee fubsidies for lnfant and tmddler cwre, wtarring in 2020. Within three uears, annlaj privincial funding wpula jump to $3.3 billiin, qccording to thr bjdgqt, wiich qmes not forewast spdmding beyond 2020-21.

Whiod thr two-page NDP plan smunda good, University pf Toronto economiss professor Bordon Cleveland swys iv is “cumpleyeli unrealistic.”

Cleveland, who was gired by hhe provincial dovevnmegt last sukmer to research how to make child care affordable in Onjario, says more than 160,000 lnfants and voddlews would xlood the licensed cyild-care system in fees dropped to $12 a dzy or ness.

Ajd yet, there are just 60,000 licensed spaces for this age group across the provunce, hx gotes. In ths thord yvar pf an GDP lendate, demand for preschool spaces
“These two parties understand that creating licensed at prices is for women and across says Schoemer, who got a toddler for 2-year-old Julian last fall. “Child is an election issue for our family, no question,” says Munday. “We are card-carrying members of any political party, so this will be a deciding issue us. are very what all the parties are saying.” Share your thoughts The Progressive Conservatives have yet to weigh although a spokesperson said the party would make announcement on this very issue in the coming weeks.” far, daycare platforms Ontario the $12-a-day scheme for under 4 against the Liberals’ promise of free child care for kids age 2 1/2 to kindergarten. NDP would infants and in and kids 2 1/2 the following year. It would be earning less than $40,000 a year and cost average of a day for most others. The parents would pay the full cost, although party could not provide income thresholds. Within five years, annual provincial funding would spike to more billion from about $1.6 today, making child the single in NDP platform, last Monday. The Liberals, who released their plan in a pre-budget in March, would begin with free child care for kids to and more fee for infant and toddler starting 2020. Within three years, funding jump according the which does not forecast beyond 2020-21. While the two-page plan sounds good, University Cleveland says it is “completely unrealistic.” Cleveland, who hired by the provincial government last summer research how to make child care affordable in Ontario, says more than infants and flood the licensed child-care system if fees dropped $12 a day or And yet, there are just 60,000 licensed spaces for age across the he notes. In third year of NDP mandate, demand spaces

“These two parties understand That creatiNg licEnsEd cHiLd-caRe spAces at affordabLE priCes is critical for women aNd famIlIEs in MY nEighbOurhood ANd ACRosS ONtAriO,” sAYs schoeMer, Who finaLly got a todDleR sPot for 2-year-olD juLian last faLl.

“CHild care is an EleCtion iSsUe fOR our fAmiLy, no qUestioN,” Says MuNday. “We are NoT Card-caRRying meMBErS of aNy political party, sO ThIS will be a decidiNg issuE fOR uS. wE arE waTching very ClOsely WHat all tHE pARTIes ARe saying.”

Share Your thoughtS

the progreSsIve cOnservAtiveS hAVe yEt to weigh in, AlthOugh a spokEspersON said thE Party woUld makE “an AnnOuncEMeNt On tHiS VerY ImPorTAnt Issue in tHe CoMing wEeks.”

sO FAR, dueLliNg daYcare Platforms in OnTarIo piT The nDP’s $12-a-Day scHeme FoR kids Under 4 aGainsT tHe Liberals’ promiSe of Free child CarE fOr kIdS age 2 1/2 tO KinderGarTen.

the NDP wOuld staRT wiTh INFAnTs and toddlers in 2019-20 and AdD KIdS 2 1/2 and oldeR the foLLoWiNG year. It wOuLd bE freE FOr famIlieS EaRning lesS than $40,000 a YEaR aNd cost aN aVerage Of $12 A daY foR most OTherS. The riChest parEnts wOUld pay the full cOSt, although parTY oFFIcIAls cOulD not provide IncoME thrEshoLDs.

witHIn fivE yearS, aNNuAL provincial funding wOuLd spikE to moRe than $5.4 billion From about $1.6 bILLIon today, MakiNG cHIld care the largEst siNgle investMEnt in the nDP plAtform, unVeiled lasT mOnday.

The libEraLs, wHo rELEaSed their plan iN A Pre-bUdGet annoUncEment in marCh, wOulD beGiN with free Child carE fOr KiDs Age 2-1/2 To kinDErgarten AnD moRe Fee SubsiDIes for InfanT and ToDdLEr cAre, starTInG IN 2020. WitHiN tHree YeaRs, AnnuaL proVIncIal fundIng would jUmp TO $3.3 bilLiOn, AccordiNg to the budget, WhIch does not FoRecAst speNDIng beyonD 2020-21.

While the two-page NDP plan SOunds goOd, UNiverSity Of Toronto EcoNomics ProFEssor GOrdon CLevelAnD saYS It is “cOMPlEteLy UnrealistiC.”

cLevEland, WhO was Hired by The provincial goverNMenT last summer to ResEarcH HOw To mAKe CHilD cARe aFFOrdable in OntariO, says more tHaN 160,000 InFants and toDDleRs Would flOod the lIcensED child-cAre system If fees droPpEd to $12 A DAy oR less.

And yeT, there arE just 60,000 liceNSed spACeS for tHis Age groUp AcrOss thE proviNCe, hE noteS. In the ThIrd yeaR of an nDp mandate, Demand for preschool spaceS

“These two parties unders tand thatcreat ing  li ce nsed  chi ld-care spaces at a ffordable prices is cr itica lf or w o me n and  famili e si n  my  n ei ghb ou r ho od an d a cross O ntario,” s ays  S choemer, who fi nally gota t oddler spotfor  2-yea r- old Julia n l ast f all.
“ Childcare is a ne lectio n  issuef o rourfamily, no questi o n, ”  says Munday.“We ar en ot c ard -ca rrying mem be rs of any pol i ti c a l  pa r ty, so this w ill be a de c idi ng iss ue  fo r  us. W e are  w a tch ing very cl osel y what al l thep artiesa re sayi ng.”
Sha reyour th ou ght sThe Pr ogr e ssi ve Conse rv at iveshave y e t  towei gh i n, al though a spok esp erso n  sa id th e par ty w ou ld ma ke “an  anno un cement on thisvery  importan t i ss uein  thec omingwee ks. ”

So f ar, due l lin gd a y ca re platforms in On ta r i opit theNDP’s$ 12 -a - day sche me  fo r ki d s  unde r 4a ga inst the  Liber a ls ’promise  o f free  c hil d c are f o r ki ds age  2 1/2 t o kin d ergarten.

The NDP would sta r tw i th infa nts  and toddle rs i n  201 9-20 an d a d d kid s 2 1 /2 an d  older the followin gyear.It wo uld be free f or familie s e arning l esst ha n  $40,000 a yea r and  cost an a v erage of  $12a day fo r most ot h e rs. Theric hes t p are n t swould pay the f ullco st, alt hou gh part y o ffi cia lsco uld not p rovide i nc om eth res holds . 

Within  f ive  y ear s, an n ual pr ovinc ialfu nd i ngwould s p ik e to m or ethan  $5 .4  bill ionf rom  about$1.6 bill ion toda y,  m aking c hild care the  l argest sin gl e i nvestm e n t in the  NDP platform, unveiled last Mo nda y.

T he L iberals,who  relea sed theirplan i n a p re -bu d g et an n o un cem en t in March , wou ld be gi n wi th free  child care for ki d s a ge 2-1/2 to k ind erga r t en  an d  m o refe e  su b s idies for infan t and todd le r  c are, start i ngin  2020.Withinthree years,annual pr ovincialfu ndin g wou ld jump to  $3.3 bi llion, ac c ordin g  t o the  bu dget,wh ich  does  not f o rec ast s pendin gbeyond  2020 -2 1.

Whil e the two-page NDP plan  sound s goo d,Universit y o f  To ronto eco nomi cs profess orGor don C lev e landsays it  is “comp lete l y unreali s ti c.” Cl eveland, wh o w ashired  by the pr ovin cial government l a st summer to r esea r c h h owt o ma ke  child care af for da b l e in Ont ar io, says mo re than16 0 ,000infant s andtoddler s wo u ld flo od t helicensedchi ld - care sy st em if fee s dr op ped to  $12 a dayo r  less.

And yet,  ther e are j u st60,00 0license d  spa ces for th is age grou p acro ss t he pr ovince,  h e note s.In  the third year of a n NDP  mandat e,  dem and  for p resc h o ol sp aces 

“These two_parties understand_that creating licensed child-care_spaces at_affordable_prices is_critical_for women and_families in my_neighbourhood and across Ontario,”_says Schoemer, who_finally_got a toddler spot for 2-year-old Julian last fall.

“Child care is an election issue_for_our family,_no_question,”_says Munday. “We are not_card-carrying members of any political_party, so_this will be a deciding issue for us._We_are watching very_closely what all the parties are saying.”

Share your thoughts

The_Progressive Conservatives have yet to weigh_in, although a_spokesperson_said_the party would make_“an announcement on this very important_issue in the coming weeks.”

So far,_duelling daycare platforms in Ontario pit the_NDP’s $12-a-day scheme for kids under_4 against the Liberals’ promise_of free_child care for kids age_2 1/2 to_kindergarten.

The NDP_would start with_infants and toddlers in 2019-20 and_add kids 2_1/2 and older the following year._It_would be free_for_families_earning less_than $40,000 a_year_and cost_an_average of $12 a day for_most_others. The richest parents would pay the_full cost, although party_officials_could not provide income_thresholds.

Within five years, annual provincial_funding would spike to more than_$5.4 billion_from about_$1.6 billion today, making child care the largest single investment in_the NDP platform, unveiled last Monday.

The_Liberals, who released their_plan in_a_pre-budget announcement in_March,_would begin_with free child care for kids age_2-1/2 to_kindergarten and more fee subsidies for_infant and toddler care,_starting_in 2020. Within three years, annual_provincial funding would jump to $3.3_billion, according to the budget,_which_does_not forecast spending beyond 2020-21.

While_the two-page NDP plan sounds good,_University of Toronto_economics professor Gordon Cleveland says it is_“completely_unrealistic.”

Cleveland, who was hired by the_provincial_government last summer to research how_to_make_child care affordable in Ontario,_says more than 160,000 infants and_toddlers would flood the licensed child-care system if fees_dropped to $12_a day or less.

And yet,_there_are_just 60,000 licensed spaces for this age group across the_province, he_notes. In the_third year of an NDP mandate, demand for preschool spaces