Child care services gets grant

The provin­cial government will provide $23-million in financial assis­tance to help an additional 3,000 children benefit from licenced child care

In Wellington County, child care services will receive $313,481, which will benefit approximately 65 children in the county. Licensed providers have to meet health, safety, and care­giver training standards that are enforced by the gov­ern­ment.

Eligibility for the financial assistance grant 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 government is also spending $2-million to create new child care spaces in French-language schools.

Making child care more affordable builds on the pro­vincial 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.

“I know how important access to affordable child care is to parents in Guelph,” said Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph. It will also benefit Guelph because the county is the child care provider for the city, too.