Minister’s Visit Brings News of More Affordable and Accessible Child Care Spaces in Kawartha Lakes

Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and MPP Laurie Scott visited the Lindsay Child Care Program, Compass Early Learning and Care operating out of St. Dominic’s Catholic Elementary School.

During their visit, they announced funding to open 443 new child care spaces in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton by the end of 2026. This will be a 40 percent increase in total spaces available, bringing the 2026 child-care access rate in Kawartha Lakes up to the new provincial minimum standard.

“We are very appreciative that Minister Lecce and MPP Laurie Scott took the time to visit and experience the great work and passionate efforts of our providers for the early learning and development of our children in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton. Enhancing access to more affordable child care and increasing spaces across our communities is timely, given the growing demand for families,” said Mayor Doug Elmslie about the visit and announcement.

Kawartha Lakes Human Services staff, with the help of Economic Development staff, have reached out to local businesses and landlords in communities that have been identified as priority areas for child-care space creation in the City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton. Individuals or businesses with appropriate space are encouraged to contact cklhumanservices@kawarthalakes.ca or fill out the child care expansion contact form.

In addition to increased space, on-going actions are being taken to make child care more affordable and accessible for families in Kawartha Lakes, saving families an average of $6,000 to $10,000 per child.

As of December 31, 2022 families accessing licensed child care for children aged zero to five years old saw a 50 percent reduction in fees. Further reductions in fees will continue until the flat rate of $10 a day is reached by 2026.

All child care rates are frozen at their current rate to ensure families of children aged zero to five years old accessing care will not see an increase in the charges for daily care. Funding is provided to licensed home and centre-based child care service providers to offset the fee reduction to maintain financial viability of our programs across Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.

MPP Laurie Scott, Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, Mayor Doug Elmslie, and City of Kawartha Lakes Human Services Staff.