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Area daycares to receive more the $650,000 from province LondonTopic.ca 07/10/2008 London North Centre MPP and Minister of Children and Youth Services Deb Matthews. File photo, LondonTopic.ca Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services and London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews has announced significant funding for the province's licensed daycares Wednesday (July 9), and those in the London-Middlesex area are in line for more than $650,000. The new investment is part of Ontario's $25 million effort to help make high-quality child care more affordable for families across the province and in London. London-Middlesex will receive more than $650,000 in funding to help more families cover the cost of licensed child care. This funding will serve approximately 100 more children on an ongoing basis. Licensed providers have to meet health, safety and caregiver training standards that are enforced by the government, said a media release. "Making sure more families have access to affordable, high-quality child care for their kids helps increase opportunities for the entire family," said Mathews. "It means that children benefit from a quality early learning environment - and it helps hardworking parents balance the demands of work and family." Eligibility for the financial assistance is based on net family income. For example, a family with a net income below $20,000 can receive full child care assistance. A family receiving financial child care assistance with a net income of $40,000 will pay approximately $8 per day. Parents can apply for the financial assistance through their municipality for children up to age 12. The investment is aimed at building on the Ontario Government's commitment to develop a poverty reduction strategy that will expand opportunities for children and low-income families so they can reach their full potential and contribute to a strong economy, Matthews said. According to the media release, approximately 14,000 more children are receiving fee subsidies through the government's Best Start investments. In addition, the province has created over 22,000 new child care spaces over the past three years and is investing more than $869 million in child care in 2008-2009. The standardized income test for fee subsidies strives to ensure fairness, Matthews said, while recognizing that middle-income families may need assistance, making more families eligible for subsidies. LEARN MORE Visit online (see links) to find licensed child care or for more information regarding fee subsidies for licensed child care in Ontario. WEB: Licensed Child Care WEB: Fee Subsidies

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