The Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force met on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at 8:45 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Chaired by Councillor Miles.



1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil


2 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a) Minutes of the Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force (ELCCTF-2012-2) meeting held on April 26, 2012

RECOMMENDATION ELCCTF-6-2012:

Moved by Councillor Moore,
Seconded by Councillor Sanderson;

That the minutes of the Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force (ELCCTF-2012-2) meeting held on April 26, 2012, be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION ELCCTF-7-2012:

Moved by Councillor Hames,
Seconded by Councillor Moore;

That the presentation by Andrea Calver, Coordinator, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care under Presentations, on the agenda for the May 24, 2012 Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force listed as Item 4a)v. be withdrawn;

And further, that the agenda include an email from Andrea Calver dated May 17, 2012, pertaining to the cancellation of the May 10, 2012, Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force meeting to be dealt with under Communications Item 5j;

And further, that the presentation by Martha Friendly, Executive Director, Childcare Resource Research Unit listed under Presentations, Item 4a)vi. be withdrawn;

And further, that the agenda for the May 24, 2012, Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force meeting be approved, as amended.

See also items 4a)v., 4a)vi., and 5j

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer provided a recap of information relating to child care covered to date by the Task Force. He also mentioned that tours of various child care facilities have been booked and several members have confirmed their attendance. He recommended that the June 7, 2012 meeting of the Task Force, originally scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., be re-scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. in order to accommodate the presentations from the May 10, 2012 meeting that was cancelled. The members indicated their agreement with staff’s recommendation for re-scheduling.

4. PRESENTATIONS

a) Quality Programs, Quality Assurance, Effects of Full Day Kindergarten, System Transformation, and Sustainability

(i) Presentation by Joan Arruda, Executive Director, Family Day Care Services

Received

(ii) Presentation by Linda Cottes, Executive Director, YMCA

Received

(iii) Presentation by Lynn Hiebert, CEO, PLASP Child Care Services

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Lynn Hiebert, Joan Arruda, and Linda Cottes presented their perspectives as private operators of child care facilities and programs. They highlighted that their organizations comprise 11,993 licensed child care spaces out of the 25,000 total in the Region of Peel. They provide ongoing representation and training for 1,168 staff; 1,472 volunteers, and 416 student placements. The organizations support a comprehensive inclusion policy for all students with special needs, 45 extended day programs, and support quality assurance and other initiatives like Raising the Bar and the Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) program. They stated their most pressing challenge in the future will be making up for the current vacancy rate of 29 per cent or 3,440 child care spaces in their centres due to the advent of Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK). They noted addressing the vacancy rate will require substantially more subsidy dollars from all levels of government.

Councillor McCallion inquired as to what the criteria is for parents to obtain subsidy dollars for a child care space. Janet Menard, Commissioner of Human Services, responded that if a parent applies for a child care space and cannot pay the market rate, they are referred to the Region of Peel for screening for subsidy. The screening process is a provincial test for lower-income parents, and if there are no subsidy dollars available for the applicants, the applicants are placed on a waiting list where they will be removed in turn as dollars become available for spaces.

Councillor Moore inquired as to what the current vacancy rate is in relation to previous years when the impact of FDK had not yet been realized. Joan Arruda replied that while she did not have the exact numbers, the rapid expansion effect of FDK has driven up the rate far higher than normal vacancy trends occurring in licensed home care as more and more parents move to centre-based care. Councillor Moore also commented that there are two issues here that may need addressing separately in the future: the affordability of child care spaces; and the advent of FDK and how it is utilized by parents to replace existing child care.

Councillor Hames inquired as to how many children are currently subsidized by the Region of Peel. David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, replied that there are 4,800 subsidized children and a roughly equal amount currently on the waitlist for subsidy. Councillor Hames inquired whether the other levels of government provide any of those subsidies. Janet Menard responded that 78.7 million dollars are currently spent in the system; $51.8 million from province, $23.1 million from the Region of Peel, with any revenue shortfall coming from the Region of Peel ($3.8 million). Furthermore, $36 million of the total is directed to private operators of child care, and 16 million is directed to the Regionally-operated Centres.

Councillor Hames inquired as to how many children would receive subsidy if the Regionally-operated child care centres were closed and the funding redirected. Janet Menard responded that the current staff estimate is approximately 600 additional subsidies.

Councillor Miles inquired why there was a perception that the private child care providers were not of the same quality as the Region of Peel Centres when dealing with child care and services to children with special needs. Joan Arruda responded that many private operators are not able to access the necessary extra funding required to provide the top notch services for every student who needs them.

(iv) Presentation by Wendy Marshall, Co-President, Association of Day Care Operators, Commercial Licensed Child Care

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Wendy Marshall, Co-President, Association of Day Care Operators, Commercial Licensed Child Care provided an overview of her experience being an independent private operator of child care, as well as, being actively involved in the Association of Day Care Operators. She noted independent operators of child care are one of the biggest employers of women; and that the implementation of FDK is affecting all providers, especially those in rural areas. Private operators are losing experienced staff at increasing rates to the school boards. She also added that due to transitions to a younger cohort of children, many facilities require significant capital improvements, and funding is lacking or uneven among providers.

(v) Presentation by Andrea Calver, Coordinator, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

Withdrawn

See also Approval of Agenda and Item 5j

(vi) Presentation by Martha Friendly, Executive Director, Childcare Resource Research Unit

Withdrawn

See also Approval of Agenda

5. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Matthew Tamburello, Email dated April 19, 2012, Regarding the Potential Closure of the Region of Peel Child Care Centres

Received

b) Brampton Caledon Community Living (BCCL) and Community Living Mississauga (CLM), Fax dated April 19, 2012, Providing a Brief from the Brampton Caledon Community Living (BCCL) and Community Living Mississauga (CLM) Outlining their Recommendations to the Early Learning and Childcare in Peel Council Task Force

Received

c) Hannah Del Puerto, Email dated April 30, 2012, Regarding her Experience with Community Living Mississauga (CLM)

Received

d) Philip and Jamuna Cossoy, Email dated April 30, 2012, Regarding the Region’s Role in Supporting Children with Special needs

Received

e) Mary Astone Mandarino, Email dated May 1, 2012, Regarding the Region’s Role in Supporting Children with Special Needs

Received

f) Agnieszka Doniec, Email dated May 4, 2012, Expressing Concerns Regarding Support and Care for Children with Special Needs

Received

g) Makiba Holder, Email dated May 9, 2012, Sharing Her Experiences with Childcare and Concerns Regarding Subsidy

Received

h) Alicia Auld, Email dated May 10 2012, Expressing Concerns Regarding Support and Care for Children with Special Needs

Received

i) Aline Emirzian, Email dated May 15, 2012, Expressing Concerns Regarding Support and Care for Children with Special Needs

Received

Additional Item – Item 5j:

j) Andrea Calver, Email dated May 17, 2012, Pertaining to the Cancellation of the May 10, 2012 Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force Meeting

Received

See also Approval of Agenda and Item 4a)v

6. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Item – Item 6a:

a) Proposed Dates for Facility Tours (Oral)

Received

Councillor Miles provided the members of the Task Force with an update on the proposed dates for tours of various child care facilities. She noted that on May 28, 2012 there would be a tour of several Brampton facilities; and on June 8, a tour of several Mississauga facilities. She added that if any additional Councillors would like to attend, to please bring this to staff’s attention.

7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Early Learning and Child Care in Peel Council Task Force is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 4:30 p.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Curtiss Law, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4330 or at curtiss.law@peelregion.ca.


8. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:55 a.m.