Parents with children in licensed child care will be shielded from fee increases when Ontario’s minimum wage rises to $14 in January, the Star has learned. In a letter to municipalities last week, education ministry officials confirmed $12.7 million in new funding will be available to help licensed child-care centres and home child-care agencies cover added costs related to the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. The new workplace law, passed this week, will boost the minimum wage from $11.60 to $14 on Jan. 1, and to $15 the following year. It is in addition to the $2-per-hour wage-enhancement grant and home child-care grant and will be available to all licensed child-care operators and licensed home child-care agencies, she added. “So this is good for parents.” Salman, who is studying for a Master’s degree in early childhood, said the increased minimum wage is also a boon to child-care workers.

Source: thestar November 24, 2017 11:03 UTC