Ontario Expands Emergency Child Care to More Frontline Workers

Government offers benefit at no cost in regions where students continue to learn remotely

On Sunday, February 7, 2021, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement regarding the provision of emergency child care services:

“Beginning this Tuesday, emergency child care will be extended to additional frontline workers in Toronto, York Region and Peel. This will include construction workers working on essential projects that have been permitted to continue during the provincial shutdown, and transit workers who are unable to work remotely.

While students in many parts of the province are returning or have returned to in-person learning, students in Toronto, York Region and Peel will be returning to class one week later, on February 16, 2021. During this period of remote learning, our government is supporting these key workers by ensuring their children are well cared for.

This past week, based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, we gave parents certainty around the planned return to in-person learning for students across our province. For working families around the province, this means that they will be able to return to work knowing their child’s learning and development is continuing in classrooms safely, with new measures in place to protect students and staff. Learning in class, alongside friends and teachers, is crucial for the mental health, development, and long-term success of students.

We are all in this together, and as our fight against COVID-19 continues, our government has proven time and again that we will step up and demonstrate to frontline workers that we have their backs.”

BACKGROUND

The government will be further expanding eligibility for the targeted emergency child care program to additional frontline workers who are performing critical roles in their communities. This expansion is intended to support frontline workers and their families with child care options, at no cost, in regions where students continue to learn remotely. These additions build on the existing list of eligible workers and will take effect on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.

New additions to the list of those eligible for emergency child care:

In the construction sector: individuals who work for a business that undertakes construction activities or projects and related services, including land surveying and demolition services, that are permitted to be open under section 43 of Schedule 2 of O. Reg. 82/20 of the Reopening Ontario Act.
In the transportation sector: employees of a municipal transit agency, Metrolinx or the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, who support a function that cannot be done through remote work arrangements.

Access to emergency child care services in the public health units of York Region, Toronto and Peel will end on Friday, February 12, 2021, in advance of the return to in-person learning on February 16, 2021.

Contact your municipality or municipal service system manager to see if you are eligible for emergency child care.