The provincial government is promising to opening 3,725 new child-care spaces in Waterloo Region by 2026. But with many daycares experiencing long wait lists – is it enough?
The region says most child-care centres in Waterloo region are expected to opt into $10-a-day child care by the Sept. 1 deadline, but operators say they can't expand the program until something is done to help hire, train and retain workers in the field.
Local parents say they’re looking forward to the lower child care costs promised by the federal and provincial governments in March. But local child care operators are still waiting to hear more details on how the program will roll out.
According to the most recent survey from the Region of Waterloo, local families pay between $9,012 and $23,939 annually for one child to be in full-time licensed child-care.