Waterloo Region proposing fee increase for licensed home daycares

Region proposes increase to home daycare costs From CTV Kitchener's Ricardo Veneza: Regional council is proposing an increase to fees at licensed home daycares.

KITCHENER — It could soon cost parents in Waterloo Region more money to send their child to a licensed home daycare.

The region is proposing a fee increase for the first time since 2017 as part of the 2022 budget deliberations.

Some of the proposals could double the cost of the only licensed child care option for families.

A select few of the proposals could double the cost of the only licensed child care option for some families.

"This increase is really to respond to the increased demands of that profession essentially, and being able to provide quality child care which is so important to children in the long-term," said Kristen Bustamante, the manager of home child care for the Region of Waterloo.

She adds that part-day care is becoming financial unviable, so the changes would see them scrap the fee schedule for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Children six and older, meanwhile, would cost 12 per cent more.

Here's a breakdown of those proposed fees:

If approved, parents of young children could pay upwards of 80 per cent more per day for up to 10 hours of care – even if their child doesn't stay the full 10 hours.

Bustamante says the largest increases would only impact about 20 families and the region will work with those parents individually to find subsidies and supports.

"We see this as a way to support all families, but in particular, families who use these kinds of irregular hours or irregular schedules of care."

Other increases tally less than one per cent.

Bustamante says the proposed rate increases would go directly to caregiver compensation and hopes that it will result in more child care spaces.

"If the rates go up it results in more caregivers staying in the profession and attracting more caregivers to the profession," Bustamante says. "In that vein, we can keep the spaces that we have and expand the number of spaces."

The proposed increases go to regional council on Dec. 15 when the 2022 budget is expected to be finalized.

If approved, the changes would go into effect on March 1.