Regulatory Registry Posting related to the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and the Education Act: Phase 2 Regulations.
Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg 137/15
O. Reg 138/15
O. Reg 221/11
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
Summary of Decision:
From February 1 to April 1, 2016, the ministry received over 1300 submissions regarding the proposed phase 2 regulations related to:
1. Service System Management and Funding
2. Licensing clarity
3. Enforcement
4. Tiered licensing (term of a license)
5. Licensing standards
6. Licensing fees
7. Before-and-after school programs for children age 6-12: Extended Day and Third Party Programs (amendments under the Education Act); and
8. Miscellaneous regulations
On May 9, 2016, the Ministry of Education filed new and revised regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and Education Act. Phase 2 regulations continues to refine and improve the regulatory framework to maintain momentum of positive change and continue to support the health, safety and well-being of children.
The following regulations were filed with the registrar of regulations and published on the e-Laws website:
Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA)
• Ontario Regulation 137/15: General
• Ontario Regulation 138/15: Funding, Cost Sharing and Financial Assistance
Education Act
• Ontario Regulation 221/11: Extended Day and Third-Party Programs
• Ontario Regulation 306: Special Education Programs and Services
To allow the transition time for the child care and early years sector on the new regulatory requirements, the new phase 2 regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and Education Act will take effect at varying effective dates, starting July 1, 2016.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
15-EDU006
Posting Date:
February 1, 2016
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of Education (the ministry) and its partners have been working to support an early years and child care system which is focused on the health, development, and well-being of children and the provision of high quality programs.
Following several years of engagement, consultation, research, and legislative processes, on August 31, 2015, the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) was proclaimed into force, replacing the Day Nurseries Act.
The ministry is taking a multi-phase approach to the development and implementation of new regulations under the CCEYA. Under Phase 1, new regulations came into effect on August 31, 2015, which included new/amended regulations related to: licensing clarity, enforcement, licensing standards and children with special needs. Phase 1 regulations were intended to provide the necessary framework needed to ensure a seamless transition from the old regime to the new one.
The ministry is now consulting on Phase 2 regulations to continue to support the government's vision for child care modernization and its commitment to have in place before and after school programs for children age 6-12 years in publicly-funded schools. The proposed regulations focus on the following key areas:
• Service system management and funding
• Licensing clarity
• Enforcement
• Tiered Licensing - term of a licence
• Licensing standards
• Licensing fees
• Before-and-after school programs for children age 6-12: Extended Day and Third Party Programs
• Miscellaneous regulations
The consultation document included as part of this posting to the Regulatory Registry Website describes proposals to Ontario Regulation 137/15 and Ontario Regulation 138/15 under the CCEYA related to these areas, as well as the proposed timing of when changes would come into effect, pending approval.
Additionally, amendments are being proposed to Ontario Regulation 221/11 under the Education Act to begin preparing the regulatory framework necessary for the implementation of a province-wide approach to before- and after-school programs for children age 6-12 years of age.
All interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed regulations by April 1, 2016. The ministry values the unique and diverse perspectives from parents/families and broader child care, education, service system management, and early years partners.
Feedback can be provided in one of three ways:
1) By using the comments field which appears when the "Comment on this proposal via e-mail" field is accessed below.
2) By email: CCGE_modernization@ontario.ca
3) By regular mail:
Child Care Modernization
c/o Early Years Division
Ministry of Education
900 Bay Street, 24th Floor, Mowat Block
Toronto ON M7A 1L2
Contact Address:
Child Care Modernization
c/o Early Years Division
Ministry of Education
900 Bay Street, 24th Floor, Mowat Block
Toronto ON M7A 1L2
CCGE_modernization@ontario.ca
Effective Date:
May 9, 2016
Decision:
Approved