'We need people to see childcare as a professional job and want to stay in it,' says Martha Friendly. '$18 an hour won’t do that'
Last week, Ontario became the last jurisdiction to sign on to the federal government’s childcare agreement—four days ahead of the deadline and two months out from a provincial election. The five-year, $10.2-billion deal will bring daycare fees down to an average of $10 a day by the end of 2025, with initial reductions set to roll out during the electoral campaign.
Honestly, we got back to work. We know how important the next phase will be both here and across the country.Oh, the pandemic. It really showed how childcare fits into our lives, including those of employers. The business community has recognized that a society that depends on women’s work—which Canada does—can’thave childcare. Another thing the pandemic exposed is the ephemeral nature of our current system.
No! Here’s the thing. In Ontario, there’s no industry-specific minimum wage—roughly a quarter of childcare workers are paid the standard hourly minimum wage of $15. So, two years ago, the major provincial childcare organizations called for a $25-an-hour minimum. Nothing happened. Now, with the $1-an-hour annual increase guaranteed by the new deal, daycare supervisors will get that $25 minimum—in five years.