File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / zurijeta.File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / zurijeta.
Midwestern

Ontario announces child care support

The Ontario government is planning to provide some financial support when it comes to child care if strike actions continue at schools.

Rotating strikes have closed schools and could affect school-based child care centres.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce made the announcement Wednesday morning saying financial support will be provided to parents for each day of school that a child misses on account of a labour disruption, or each day of child care that is not available if offered from a closed school.

Eligible parents of children up to age 12 (Grade 7), or up to age 21 for children and youth with special needs, in a publicly funded school, can qualify for various amounts ranging from $40 to $60 per day: $60 per day for children aged zero to six who are not yet enrolled in school but attend a school-based child care centre that is required to close on account of the strike. $40 per day for students in Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten. $25 per day for students in Grades 1 up to and including Grade 7. $40 total per day for students in JK up to and including Grade 12 with a special need(s).

The support would be retroactive for qualifying parents to cover costs already incurred due to labour disruptions.

More details about the plan can be found at Ontario.ca/SupportForParents.

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