'New phase of negotiations:' Ontario close to landing $10/day childcare deal
Ontario and the federal government have entered a “new phase of negotiations” that could see a $10-a-day childcare agreement reached within weeks, federal sources tell CTV News Toronto.
After months of negotiations Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the provincial government has handed over all the necessary documents required by the federal government that outlines how Ontario intends to reduce fees and create new childcare spaces with the federal funds.
“All details, all plans requested by the federal government are with them,” Lecce told reporters on Tuesday. “We look forward to getting this deal as soon as possible to save families money.”
A spokesperson for Karina Gould, the federal minister responsible for the child care file, said the Ontario government sent the first draft of the province’s action plan late last week and the plan now allows the two sides to start discussing the specifics of the deal.
“The submission of the first draft of the action plan has allowed for negotiations to move to the next phase where officials can now work to ensure that the plan meets federal objectives on space creation, affordability, data and reporting, workforce supports, inclusivity and quality within the parameters of the funding allocation for Ontario,” a spokesperson for Gould said.
When asked how quickly a deal could be signed, a federal source said other provinces were able to reach an agreement roughly three weeks after the government received the actions plan.
While Premier Doug Ford re-emphasized, on Tuesday, that the province is “very, very close to getting a deal” federal officials stressed that time is running out.
The federal government allocated $10.2 billion to help Ontario drive down the daily cost of childcare – more than a billion of which was intended for the 2021-22 fiscal year which ends of March 31.
Federal officials warned that if a deal isn’t reached before the end of the month the first-year funding could “lapse.” While the funding wouldn’t be pulled entirely, the federal government would have to embark on a complicated accounting process to reallocate the money to the 2022-23 fiscal year – making the Ontario deal unique compared to other provinces and territories.
Ford said the government remains committed to reaching a deal, but did not provide a timeline.
“We’re going to get this deal, Just stay tuned,” Ford told the Ontario legislature. “Hopefully it will be sooner than later.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.