Toronto child care is the most expensive in the country
Toronto child care is the most expensive in the country
—The median monthly cost of keeping a single toddler in full-day child care, according to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. That’s the highest median price in the country—a financial hardship mitigated only by Torontonians’ relatively high average incomes. Meanwhile, parents in Montreal and other Quebec cities, where child care is heavily subsidized by the province, pay just $152 a month.
As someone who has spent in the neighboughood of $175,000 on daycare over the past 10 years I can attest to the gross injustice of this. Huge inequity compared to our FrancoFriends in PQ.
Based on the rates published on the City of Toronto website for Toronto Early Learning and Child Care Services, the rate for one infant (up to 18 months) is $100.13/day which, assuming there are 20 weekdays per month, would put full-day child care at just over $2000 a month. This is the rate for the programs run by the city. It’s incredibly difficult and disheartening.
As the father of four children I know well how much it costs to raise them and in general I am in favor of tax policies that encourage parenthood or, at least, don’t discourage it. After all, the children of today will be the productive workers of tomorrow who through their hard work will sustain us, their parents, in our old age.
That said, I’m not convinced that blanket subsidies to lower daycare costs are the answer, especially in cash-strapped Ontario. And I disagree strongly with the assertion that the lack of this benefit constitutes a “gross injustice”. Parenthood is a choice, and the primary responsibility to care for children (and to pay for their caregivers) lies with their parents, not with the state.
It’s inequitable that we’re paying vast sums for childcare, while also subsidizing Quebec childcare via our tax dollars and transfer payments.