Some Ontario municipalities are considering working directly with Ottawa on affordable child care plans as talks between the provinces and federal governments drag on.
Toronto City Council was due to hear a motion today asking for the option of attempting to appeal directly to the federal government over the $ 10-per-day child care plan if the province does not reach an agreement.
Members of the Hamilton Community Services and Emergencies committee will consider a similar motion later this month.
Read more:
Doug Ford says he wants to pursue a child care deal with the re-elected Liberal government
Both motions point to the importance of affordable child care in pandemic recovery plans and the need to support parents, particularly women, to reintegrate into the workforce.
Last month, the Niagara Regional Council directed staff to investigate the possibility of a municipal-federal agreement for the region to participate in the plan.
The federal government has promised to spend $ 30 billion over five years to reduce child care costs to an average of $ 10 a day nationwide.
Seven provinces and one territory have signed agreements with Ottawa, but Alberta and Ontario are not among them.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said the province is open to the plan but wants to continue negotiating to get more funding and protect current system offerings.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
Reference-globalnews.ca