Childcare Discussion at Ingersoll Town Council Sparks Confusion

Thursday, 12 January 2023 05:42

By Marcie Culbert

The difference between licensed and unlicensed child care has been a big topic of discussion in Ingersoll lately.

INGERSOLL - Child care was a big topic at Ingersoll Town Council's first meeting of 2023.

Councillor Khadijah Haliru brought forward the following Notice of Motion during their meeting Monday night:

THAT the Town of Ingersoll operate to help individuals create daycare spots with support training in the community, for additional daycare slots in 2023.

Deputy Mayor Lindsay Wilson says this sparked discussion around the difference between licensed and unlicensed childcare spots.

"Unlicensed is not illegal, it just doesn't necessarily have the oversight from the province. Crucially for parents, licensed (childcare) spots are the ones that will get you to that $10 per day childcare. For me, what's really important as an elected official is making sure that we have enough of those affordable, accessible, and safe licensed childcare spots available in our community."

Wilson says Haliru's motion focuses on licensed childcare spots.

She says another difference between licensed and unlicensed providers would be the zoning bylaw for childcare spaces.

"There is actually a zoning bylaw that limits home child care spaces to five children, but if you are licensed under provincial legislation you are actually allowed to have six."

She says the Townships of Zorra and South-West Oxford have both adjusted their bylaw in order to align with the provincial legislation.

After the meeting Monday night, Wilson noticed a lot of people talking about childcare in a local neighbourhood discussion group. She says it's great to see that lots of people tuned into the meeting, and she's encouraging anyone who has questions or comments regarding something that's brought up at council to reach out.

"The community is always encouraged to reach out to myself or any elected official in any level of government to share your concerns because that's the first step of beginning to address them."

Wilson adds Haliru's motion was defeated in the end, but she expects it may come back in another form in the future.