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continued from p.1 with the first spaces opening in 2017. Standing amid the centre's preschoolers, some of whom were reading while others served a make-believe Thanksgiving dinner, Flynn said with no set allocation dedicated to one area, the provincial government would work with municipalities to "satisfy as much of the need as possible." "Our government is investing in families by supporting a modernized child care and early years system with more capacity to care for our youngest learners," he said. "Adding more child-care spaces in Oakville is an investment in our children and an important step toward improving access to high-quality, licensed child care for all families." The Ontario government states the investment builds on ongoing work with the federal government, parents and partners to develop a child-care and early years system focused on quality, affordability, accessibility, parent choice and flexibility. Flynn noted approximately 20 per cent of children aged four years old and younger are currently in licensed child care. The demand for licensed child care is much higher, according to research, he said. Flynn said the move is in right direction to address what people have wanted a long time. Also on hand for Flynn's visit were officials from Halton Region, the YMCA of Oakville and Our Kids Network, the latter of which is a Hal- New childcare spaces needed as population soars ment for child-care spaces would help it meet the need for services in a growing population. Carr said the announcement comes as the Region is about to release the next phase in its child-care plan from 2016-20. It includes looking at ways for families to better access child-care information and recommendations on how to make services more seamless for families. He noted Milton is growing so rapidly with many people raising families in its new neighbourhoods. "So, going forward, as we put a plan together, we need to move very quickly and plan ahead of it," he said. "So, just as we've planned for the roads, water and wastewater plants, when it comes to child care, our real challenge is getting the services and making sure it's in place." YMCA of Oakville President and CEO Kyle Barber said the government's "ambitious work to modernize child care and make it more accessible for children and families in Oakville and throughout Ontario" aligns with the YMCA of Oakville's goals. "There's a saying that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go further, go together and with the speed in which our region is growing, it's pretty important we go together," he said, noting the YMCA aligns its child-care plan with Halton Region strategies. "It's that kind of synergy that will take us much further." For related story, see p.23 21 | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Neeve Murphy, 3 (from left), Halton Region Chair Gary Carr, Parker Keenleyside, 3, Charles Wiggins, 3, Isabel Milkovich, 3, and Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn sit down to a make-believe seasonal meal. Flynn expanded on a provincial government commitment to create 100,000 new licensed child-care spaces over the next five years during a visit at the Margaret Drive Child Care Centre Sept. 23. | Nikki Wesley/Metroland ton-wide partnership of organizations and agencies serving children and youths. Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr applauded the government. "Our most important asset is our children. Nelson Mandela famously said that," he said. "It's our most important resource because it's our future." Carr said gone are the days when child-care centres were thought to be a babysitting service. 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