London families are facing long waitlists to access licensed child care, and many new parents worry they may not be able to continue working.
- The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has identified London as a childcare desert with only enough licensed spaces for less than one-third of children not yet in kindergarten
- Child care centres in London are closing rooms and limiting enrolment because they cannot retain staff in their programs
- This is the result of years spent undervaluing the vitally important work of child care workers, with low pay and poor working conditions leading to high turnover
Ontario urgently needs a child care workforce strategy to address staffing shortages—including through a salary scale, increased compensation and improved working conditions—so that every family will have access to the child care they need.
I want to hear from Londoners about your experiences accessing affordable, licensed child care in the city. Please share your story and add your name to stand up for a child care workforce strategy.
