Regulation - LGIC

Proposed Regulatory Amendments under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014

Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg. 137/15 (General)
O. Reg. 138/15 (Funding, Cost Sharing and Financial Assistance)
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
Summary of Decision:
From October 2, 2020 to November 20, 2020, the Ministry of Education (the ministry) received over 460 submissions regarding the proposed regulatory changes related to:

• Flexibility and responsiveness
• Qualifications requirements
• Administrative/regulatory burden
• Health and safety
• Regulations requiring clarification of intent
• Technical matters

On March 8, 2021, the ministry filed new and revised regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. These amendments continue to refine and improve the regulatory framework that supports the health, safety and well-being of children.

On October 11, 2023, the ministry filed additional new and revised regulations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. These amendments will take effect on January 1, 2024 and will continue to improve health and safety in licensed child care programs by requiring each licensee to have and implement a safe arrival and dismissal policy.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The approved regulatory amendments are expected to benefit the sector and families with minimal compliance costs. Benefits include improved access to authorized recreational and skill building programming for families, enhanced health and safety measures, and a reduction of regulatory burden for the sector.

Implementing the proposed changes is not anticipated to have a material impact on the government's multi-year fiscal plan. All expenses associated with updating ministry resources to support the early years and child care sector will be absorbed by the ministry's existing allocation.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
20-EDU005
Posting Date:
October 2, 2020
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of Education ("the ministry") is seeking feedback on proposed regulatory amendments under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA). We want to hear from early years and child care partners as well as families.

BACKGROUND

On August 31, 2015, the CCEYA came into effect, replacing the Day Nurseries Act . Since its coming into force, the ministry has taken a phased approach to introducing regulatory changes to the two regulations under the CCEYA.

On July 7, 2020, the Minister of Education announced the start of the mandated review of the CCEYA (see section 80 of the Act) and launched two online surveys for the sector and for families. Sector partners were also invited to submit reports to the ministry with their ideas for how to improve the child care and early years system.

The mandated five-year review has provided an opportunity to introduce proposed regulatory amendments. The results of surveys and submissions helped to inform the proposed regulatory amendments to the CCEYA included in this posting.

PROPOSED REGULATORY AMENDMENTS

Proposed regulatory amendments focus on the following key areas:

1. Flexibility and responsiveness: Supporting licensees and child care providers in being able to meet the needs of their local communities and to help increase the number of child care programs/spaces available to Ontario's families
2. Qualification requirements: Updating several qualification requirements to support workforce retention and address long-standing staffing challenges
3. Administrative/regulatory burden: Removing duplicative, onerous, and unnecessary requirements for licensees and providers
4. Health and safety: Supporting the health, safety, and well-being of children
5. Regulations requiring clarification of intent: Providing clarification to foster consistent interpretation of requirements across the sector
6. Technical: Changes in language, updating references, revoking transitional regulatory provisions

HOW TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK

All interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed regulations. The Ministry of Education values the unique and diverse perspectives from parents, families, and broader child care and early years partners.

Please provide the ministry with your comments no later than November 20, 2020.

You may send your response by e-mail to: CCEYA_consultation@ontario.ca, for submissions in English, or LGEPE_consultation@ontario.ca for submissions in French.

Alternatively, you may wish to send your response by mail to:

Regulatory Registry Feedback
c/o Early Years and Child Care Division
Ministry of Education
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 0B8
Contact Address:
Regulatory Registry Feedback
c/o Early Years and Child Care Division
Ministry of Education
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 0B8
Effective Date:
March 8, 2021
Decision:
Approved