Province Announces Free Emergency Child Care to Essential Workers, Further Measures to Protect Childcare Settings

Starting January 10th, several groups of essential workers will be eligible to receive free emergency child care.

The province has announced more measures to support parents, children and childcare staff as the pandemic continues. 

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says starting January 10th, optional non-fit-tested N95 masks will be provided for staff in licensed child care settings. 

He also says the province is updating child care screening measures. 

As well, beginning January 10th, a long list of essential workers will become eligible for free emergency child care. 

This include health care workers, education staff, truck drivers and transit workers, grocery store and pharmacy staff, federal employees, public safety workers, and more. 

A full list of eligible workers is available here. 

"Throughout this pandemic, critical staff on the frontlines have continued to carry out their work – from nurses, to personal support workers, to grocery workers and pharmacists – so that we can protect our communities," Lecce said. "We owe it to them to ensure their children are cared for during this period, which is why our government is once again providing these frontline and critical workers with free emergency child care for their school-aged children."

To confirm if your family is eligible for access to emergency child care, you can contact your local service system manager. 

Lecce also notes the province is working with public health units to plan and provide increased access to booster shots for education and child care workers. 

Local public health units will provide further information on how vaccines can be accessed as it becomes available. 

Currently, select vaccination clinics with dedicated access for education and childcare workers are being held in Toronto, Ottawa and Mississauga.