Policy Submission to Queen’s Park

Treating Child Care as Essential Economic Infrastructure in Ontario

Submitted to: Members of Provincial Parliament and the Government of Ontario
Prepared by: County First
Issue Area: Labour force participation, economic growth, family policy, infrastructure

Executive Summary

Ontario is experiencing a province-wide child care capacity crisis that is now directly constraining labour force participation and economic growth. Despite significant public investment and reduced fees under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care framework, licensed child care supply has not kept pace with demand.

The shortage is no longer localized. It affects every region of the province, from the GTA to Northern, Eastern, Southwestern, and rural Ontario. Waitlists of 12–24 months are common. Infant and toddler care is the most constrained. Employers report unfilled positions at the same time parents who want to work remain sidelined.

This submission argues that child care must be treated as essential economic infrastructure, not solely as a social service, and recommends concrete provincial actions to address supply, workforce, and municipal implementation gaps.

Problem Statement

Ontario has:
• Over one million children under six
• Licensed child care coverage estimated at only 30–40% of potential demand
• Infant care representing less than 10% of licensed capacity
• Rapid waitlist growth (30–100% since 2020 in many regions)
• Widespread educator shortages resulting in underused licensed space

The result is a structural labour supply constraint that affects healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, and public services.

Regional Evidence (Summary)

• GTA: Tens of thousands of children on centralized waitlists; high rents and staffing shortages restrict expansion
• Northern Ontario: Some communities lack licensed infant care entirely; recruitment of professionals is directly impacted
• Eastern Ontario: Rural service gaps, long travel distances, waitlists exceeding one year
• Southwestern Ontario: Rapid population and industrial growth without proportional child care expansion
• Rural counties (e.g., Prince Edward County): Minimal capacity, long waitlists, young families leaving or not relocating

The consistency across regions indicates a system-wide failure rather than isolated local issues.

Why Current Policy Is Insufficient

While provincial funding is essential, funding alone does not create spaces. Expansion depends on:
• Suitable, affordable physical space
• Predictable and timely approvals
• Zoning and planning certainty
• A stable early childhood education workforce

Currently:
• Municipal implementation is uneven
• Planning and economic development are rarely aligned with child care needs
• Workforce strategies lag demand
• Child care is excluded from core infrastructure planning

Policy Objective

Enable province-wide expansion of licensed child care capacity by treating child care as essential infrastructure critical to Ontario’s labour market, economic growth, and demographic sustainability.

Recommended Provincial Actions

Immediate (0–12 months)
• Issue provincial guidance explicitly recognizing child care as essential economic infrastructure
• Require service managers to publish standardized waitlist and capacity data
• Create a provincial fast-track approval framework for licensed child care facilities

Short Term (1–3 years)
• Expand capital funding tied specifically to new space creation, not just fee reduction
• Partner with municipalities to repurpose surplus public buildings for child care use
• Introduce targeted wage and retention supports for early childhood educators

Medium Term (3–5 years)
• Integrate child care planning into housing, transit, and economic development strategies
• Establish regional child care capacity targets tied to population and employment growth
• Align immigration and credential recognition pathways with ECE workforce needs

Expected Outcomes

• Increased labour force participation, particularly among women
• Improved recruitment and retention across critical sectors
• Reduced waitlists and more predictable access for families
• Stronger local economies and demographic stability

Conclusion

Ontario’s child care shortage is no longer a peripheral policy issue. It is a binding economic constraint. Without a coordinated, infrastructure-level response, the province will continue to undermine its own labour market, productivity, and long-term growth.

The evidence is clear. The tools exist. What is required now is scale, coordination, and political will.