New strategic priorities for Peel’s early years and child care sector builds on achievements over past five years

BRAMPTON, ON (Nov 4, 2024) - Regional Council has approved the proposed strategic priorities for Peel’s early years and child care system for 2025-2030. As the Service System Manager, Peel must develop a plan with system priorities for Peel’s early years and child care every five years.

Peel consulted with 1,800 parents and caregivers, 430 children, and service providers who identified key issues impacting families as: Access, Affordability, Quality, Accountability, and Diversity and Inclusion.

In presenting the strategic priorities to Council, staff reported on the key achievements made by Early Years and Child Care Services over the past five years. Since 2019 when the current system plan was launched, Peel’s investments and achievements have included:

• $107.3M to improve access to early years and child care programs including 4,000 new child care spaces and 47% increase in EarlyON program hours per week.
• $262.9M to support providers to continuously improve program quality, including enhancements to salaries for child care staff.
• $482.8M to improve child care affordability including the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan which reduced fees by 53 per cent for children under 6, a 50 per cent reduction in fees for children in before and after school programs, and child care subsidy for eligible families with children birth to 12 years.
• $53.4M invested in early years and child care programs to ensure that they are welcoming and inclusive to all children and families.
• $331.6M invested to support service provider viability and enhance accountability for the responsible use of public funds.

The current system plan ends on December 31, 2024. The new one will be released in 2025 and will address both gaps and opportunities to move Peel's early years and child care system forward over the next five years.

Quotation

Peel's families are always at the centre of what we do in Early Years and Child Care.  Our system is on the cusp of a major transformation with the implementation of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care plan.

To successfully implement this transformation and achieve these positive outcomes for children and families, we require a shared commitment from all partners to build on existing strengths and move the recommended priorities forward.”

Nakiema Palmer, Director Early Years and Child Care, Peel Region

Media Contact

Leslyn V. Johnson
Executive Communications Advisor
Peel Region