Greater Sudbury is one the first cities in Ontario to sign onto the Federal government’s  Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) initiative. As a result, many Greater Sudbury parents have already received their rebate cheques and new daycare fee structure.

More than 2,000 local children qualify for the new $10-dollar-a-day regulated childcare initiative. Families of children under the age of 6 in Sudbury will see savings of more than $12 million annually as the full effects of the program kicks in.

Greater Sudbury was able to be one of the first cities thanks to the cooperation of local licensed daycare operators and the Children’s Services department of the City who all worked together to make the initiative come to fruition.

For families with two children in daycare under the age of 6, these savings can amount to more than $12,000 annually.  Local participating licensed daycares include francophone and Indigenous providers. As well, licensed day-care providers will receive much needed funding to increase the compensation of licensed childcare workers, a move long overdue for this important sector.

Quotes

“Affordable childcare is a pressing need in our community. Some parents have told me their monthly childcare costs are higher than their mortgage payments. This gives families more money at a time when they need it most. It also paves the way for more women to join the workforce which is a big boost to our local economy.” – Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury

“Families in Greater Sudbury have started to receive their rebates for child care expenses, retroactive to April 1, 2022 and they are absolutely thrilled. Families deserve high quality, affordable and inclusive child care. We will continue to move forward together, ensuring that the CWELCC Plan is the best it can been for all stakeholders, parents, and children.” - Tracy Saarikoski, Executive Director Discovery Early Learning & Care

“The rebate we received for having two children in care allowed us to put the funds to other important costs which come from raising a family. It also gives us hope that childcare/early learning will move forward as an essential service allowing for more childcare spots to open across the province, give higher pay to the staff in early learning, and even greater cuts to costs of childcare for families.” – Alison Caruso, Sudbury Parent