THUNDER BAY - Grocery store workers, truck drivers, and retirement home staff are some of the new frontline workers who are now eligible for free emergency childcare.
The province announced an expansion to the list of frontline workers who qualify for emergency childcare during its daily media briefing on Wednesday.
"While our frontline workers are looking after us, we need to make sure we're looking after them and their families," said Premier Doug Ford. "Providing emergency child care for our essential workers gives parents one less thing to worry about when they're on the job saving lives, protecting us, or keeping shelves stocked with food and necessities."
The emergency order was first announced on March 22 directing certain childcare centres to reopen in order to support essential workers during the COVID-19 outbreak, including healthcare workers, those assisting vulnerable communities, and emergency response and law enforcement.
Those who now qualify for free emergency childcare include: Workers in grocery stores and pharmacies, truck drivers (driver's licence Class A and Class D), workers in the food supply chain, including food processing, workers in retirement homes, auxiliary workers in health care settings, including cooks and cleaning staff in hospitals and long-term care homes, interpreters and intervenors who support people who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind.
Additional government workers will also qualify, such as Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry emergency personnel, provincial officers and onsite staff in Ontario courts, Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defense staff in Ontario, and workers supporting public safety and correctional services.
"We are providing emergency child care to more frontline workers because in these unprecedented times, we will do whatever it takes to keep families safe and supported," said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. "They are making tremendous sacrifices every day, and we will be there for them every step of the way."
The province will also be reopening 37 additional childcare centres to meet the demand.
No site can contain more than 50 people and no visitors are permitted. All staff and caregivers will be tested and facilities will be cleaned daily.
Earlier this week, the province announced its roadmap for reopening the economy, which will be done in three stages.
When asked if childcare centres will be included in the first stage of reopening, Lecce said the government understands that access to childcare is a prerequisite for people re-entering the workforce.
“It’s a decision point that will come from the recovery chair,” Lecce said. “We are consulting our economy and heath experts. Every member of this government understands how important childcare is for the labour market.”
The Algoma Childcare Centre in Thunder Bay is listed as an emergency childcare centre.
For more information on emergency childcare, visit the Ontario government website.
