Child-care deal ‘very, very close,’ premier says

Ontario is close to a childcare deal with the federal government, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday, as the province remains the only jurisdiction without a deal with Ottawa for $10-a-day child care.

Ford told radio station Q104 Kenora that he is confident Ontario will reach an agreement.

“We’re very, very close,” he said. “I’m confident we’re going to strike a deal that’s going to be beneficial for everyone in Ontario.”

His comments come after Nunavut signed on Monday.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Monday that the province is pushing for more than the $10.2 billion on offer from Ottawa to ensure that fees can be reduced to $10 a day since Ontario families pay some of the highest prices in the country for care.

Lecce said that Ontario is also making the case that families who send their children to either not-for-profit or independent child-care settings should benefit from the fee reductions.