Proposed changes include increasing the number of young children that home-based child care providers can have in their care, from two under two-years-old, to three under two-years-old

The Ontario government is proposing legislative amendments that, if passed, would make it easier for home-based child care providers and authorized recreational and skill-building programs to serve more children.

“We listened to parents and families, and we committed to making life easier by helping them find more affordable child care and early years options,” said Lisa Thompson, Minster of Education. “These changes would provide families with more options while keeping their children safe by maintaining the same provincial health and safety provisions and progressive approach to enforcement.”

The proposed amendments to the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and the Education Act are part of the government’s recently introduced Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act.

They would help increase access to child care and early years programs while maintaining high standards and aligning age-eligibility rules with kindergarten and camps says a government news release.

They would also remove some restrictions on home-based child care, making affordable child care more available.

The proposed changes include:

Increasing the number of young children that home-based child care providers can have in their care, from two under two-years-old, to three under two-years-old Lowering the age at which home-based child care providers must count their own children toward the maximum allowable number of children in care, from six-years-old to four-years-old Reducing the age requirement from six-years-old to four-years-old for authorized recreation programs that serve children after school Removing the restriction that a parent must receive financial assistance before licensed in-home childcare services can be provided for their child.

“These changes give Ontario’s business owners the chance to grow and expand. We’re making changes to make sure operators are able to provide the service their communities need,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.