HB NEWS HALTON PUSHING FOR AFFORDABLE CHILD-CARE DEAL MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@ metroland.com Halton Region is joining the call for accessible and affordable child care spac- es for local families. g their Nov. 7 meeting regional council- lors unanimously passed a motion that encourages the federal and provincial gov- ernments to "reach an equi- table child care agreement that acknowledges the pro- vincial investment in full- day kindergarten, and de- livers affordable and acces- sible child care spaces for Ontario families. resolution, put forth: ‘oy Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Councillor Sean O'Meara, comes on the heels of a similar mo- tion being passed by Oak- ville town council. “We don't need tax re- bates; we don't need more money going into private sector hands. We need af- fordable child-care spaces to move this economy for- ward, and I have great opti- mism that it's going to hap- mounting for the Ford gov- ernment to act on afford- able child care in recent weeks, as eight provinces and one territory inked agreements with the feder- al government under its promise of deliveri Ontario education min- ister Stephen Lecce has ar- gued that the feds’ offer of $10.2 billion over five years will "shortchange” fami- lies, while the Trudeau gov- ernment said it's still wait- ing to receive a strategy from the province to reduce fees and create child-care spaces that it requested = Oil & Filter (includes up to 6 litres regular oil.) - Complete top to bottom check over. - Installation of winter tires (already on rims) included. NAPA S Ui Ke) ste) UONEH - dl UL | S seven months ago. "I'm hoping that our res- - courage their officials get down to it, said Burton. The motion passed by council says that child-care spaces in Halton and across Ontario have decreased as a result of the pandemic, the lack of child-care spaces "is a barrier to our economic recovery." It also notes that under the new national child-cai plan, parents in Halton would save $14,843 per year for an infant's care in 2026. a Fy 2 a S = z 2 ES q iS a iS 8 8 SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA Santiago Nunez photo Halton is urging the provincial and federal governments to reach a deal for affordable child care. “89 Prices are +HST * - $5.00 Tim's Card Call for an $9995 - Windshield Washer Fluid Appointment Syntheticjoil - 12 Pack of Pop *Most Vehicles. (up\to)6}litres) oe TORT ae oe READERS’ READERS’ READERS’ READERS’ G2 CHOICE 2021 [ soma [ toaza HASSELL AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE