The Executive Director of North Hastings Children’s Services is happy more parents will have access to childcare.
This comes as the province has announced that childcare will become free for two-and-a-half-year-olds until they start kindergarten as of 2020. NHCS Executive Director Jessica Anderson says this is important because early childhood educators can prepare kids for school, and help them succeed.
According to the province, families will save about $17,000 per child because of the program. Anderson says she doesn’t think this will drive up local childcare rates because the province will be paying for the program.
However, Anderson says she is cautiously optimistic because the program won’t be introduced for two years. She says she hopes other political parties will also take a stand in support of childcare heading into this year’s provincial election.