Provincial ECEC Systems
Funding
Childcare Fee Subsidy
Ontario
$880, 435, 048
Quebec
$2, 610, 753, 100 (Funded by the MFamille)
British Columbia
$97, 110, 100 (Childcare Fee Reduction Initiative)
Total Cost for Regulated Child Care
Ontario
$2, 009, 753, 832
Quebec
$3, 610, 753, 100
British Columbia
$679, 563, 111
Total ECEC Spending & Percentage from Provincial Budget
Ontario
$6, 268, 232, 949
2.8% of the Provincial Budget
Quebec
$4, 561, 738, 379
3.95% of the Provincial Budget
British Columbia
$1, 099, 092, 149
2% of the Provincial Budget
Social Context
Education Programs
Ontario
Full Day Kindergarten
Before and After School Care
Quebec
Kindergarten for 4-year olds
Kindergarten for 5-year olds
Passe-partout
Parenting skills support program for children and their
parents living in disadvantaged communities.
School-based child care services
British Columbia
Full Day Kindergarden
Strongstart BC
Ready, Set, Learn
Child Poverty Rates
Ontario
As of 2020, the child poverty rate for children under 6-years old is 20.2%
Quebec
In 2020, the child poverty rate in Quebec was 15.2%
British Columbia
In 2020, the child poverty rate in BC was 18.5%
COVID-19 Responses
Ontario
Child care centres closed during lock down and reopened when restrictions were lifted.
Once a centre is open, they must follow public health and safety measures.
Staff must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Medical Face Masks and Face Shields
Goggled
Latex Gloves
No parents or visitors allowed inside child care and school buildings
Quebec
Always trying to maintain physical distancing
Vaccine passports required for children in secondary school who want to join extra curriculars
Starting November 15th, 2021, wearing masks in the classroom will no longer be mandatory.
British Columbia
Ministry of Health provided public health guidance for child care and school settings
employers to be as flexible as possible in supporting their staff with individual concerns related to COVID-19
Online and homeschooling programs available to students
Quality
Ratios (Staff:Child)
Ontario
Infant - 3:10
Toddler - 1:5
Preschool - 1:8
Kindergarten - 1:13
Primary/Junior School Age - 1:15
Junior School Age - 1:20
Quebec
Infants - 1:5
Children 18m-4 years - 1:8
Children 4-5 - 1:10
British Columbia
0 to 36 Months - 1:4
30 Months to School Age - 1:8
Preschool - 1:10
School Age - 1:12
Education Qualifications
Ontario
Kindergarten Teachers
Bachelors degree or undergraduate degree + two years of Teachers College Education
French School Boards require language proficiency
Catholic School Boards often require proof of religious practice
Early Childhood Educators
Diploma in ECE from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology
Registered with the College of ECE upon graduation
Quebec
Kindergarten Teachers
Bachelors degree in preschool education and primary school education (4 year program) + 700 hours of practicum
Early Childhood Educators
Basic: Diploma of College Studies (DCS) in ECE or equivalent
Must be recognized by the MFamille
British Columbia
Kindergarten Teachers
Minimum 4 year post-secondary program + acceptable Teachers College Program
Early Childhood Educators
Basic ECE Education Program + 920 Hours
References
500 hours of additional work experience
Salaries
Ontario
Teachers
As of May 1st, 2019: $93, 151
Early Childhood Educators
As of May 1st, 2019: $43, 243
Quebec
Teachers
Teachers at a primary and preschool level make around $37.93 an hour.
Early Childhood Educators
$25.15 an hour
British Columbia
Teachers
As of 2019: $81, 663
Early Childhood Educators
As of 2019: $41, 848
Governance
Lead Ministry
Ontario
Ministry of Education
Quebec
Ministère de la Famille (MFamille)
British Columbia
Ministry of Children and Family Development/The Minister of State for Child Care
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Health
Legislation
Ontario
Child Care and Early Years Act (2014)
Education Act (amended 2020)
Early Childhood Educators Act (2020)
Quebec
Educational Child Care Act (amended 2017)
British Columbia
Child Care BC Act (current to June 17,2020)
Community Care and Assisted Living Act
Subtopic
Child Care Subsidy Act (current to June 17,2020)
School Act 1996 (current to June 17,2020)
Teachers Act 2011 (current to June 17, 2020)
First Nations Education Act 2007 (current to June 17, 2020)
Local Service Delivery
Ontario
47 Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services
manage child care and related early years services
First Nations establish, administer, operate, and fund chid care and early years programs
School Boards
31 English Public School Boards
29 English Catholic School Boards
4 French Public School Boards
8 French Catholic School Boards
Quebec
Educational Child Care Services (ECS) and 161 home child care coordinating offices
British Columbia
Kindergarden and StrongStart BC Early Learning Programs
60 school districts including the Conseil scolair francophone, plus independent schools
Licenced Child Care
Independent providers licensed by 5 Regional Health Authorities
Access
Child Population (0-5)
Ontario
887, 614
This makes up 6% of Ontario's population.
Quebec
525, 750
This makes up 6.2% of Quebec's population.
British Columbia
275, 751
This makes up 5.4% of British Columbia's population.
Number of Children Attending Kindergarten
Ontario
129, 159 children attending 4-year old Kindergarten
Quebec
9, 114 children attending 4-year old Kindergarten
British Columbia
98% of children attend 5-year old Kindergarten
Affordability
Ontario
18% of toddler and preschool children receive full subsidy.
Median Child Care feed as of 2019 per day
$66/day for Infants
$22/day for School Age
Quebec
Subsidy and financial assistance to their citizens
Approx. parent contribution per day for child care after being subsidized in 2020 is $8.25
Other ways to promote affordability for child care services
Abolition of the addition contributions in subsidized child care
Tax measures
Child care expense refund
Student financial assistance
Reimbursement of child care expenses
British Columbia
Various programs aim to reduce child care costs for families using regulated child care
Affordable Child Care Benefit
Special Needs Supplement
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
Inclusion
Ontario
Special Needs Supports in Kindergarten
School boards must develop IEP's for every student identified with a special need from JK-12.
Special Needs Supports in Child Care
CMSMs are required to spend a minimum of 4.1% of their total child care allocation on special needs resourcing.
Quebec
MFamille provides a range of supports to encourage the integration of children with special needs to subsidized child care centres.
Allowance for integrating a child with a disability into a child care service
Exceptional assistance measure
Allowance for a child with a disability eligible for the transitional measure
Supplement for children with disabilities requiring exceptional care
British Columbia
Supported Child Development Program to assist families of children with special needs to access child care
Program provides resources and training programs for child care staff and parents.