The cost of after school care is rising…
…and some moms are being left behind.
Join our campaign now —fill out the form below and send a letter to the Minister automatically.
In the Media
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What Moms Are Saying
"My son was enrolled in an after school program until we were told he could no longer attend because they couldn't afford the staff to support his accommodations. Now my family has to juggle work schedules, causing stress, fatigue, and disconnection at work and at home. Access to after school care would open many more opportunities to our family and improve our mental and physical health."
Leah, Toronto
“I recently moved my son to a more affordable aftercare program. I received a notice from the after school provider right away that the fees were going up and that's a huge stress for our family. We are expecting a baby any day and are counting on this savings to help us get through parental leave on a reduced income, and to help offset the huge increase in grocery expenses due to inflation and adding an additional family member."
Roxanne, Toronto
Ontario children deserve a world-class education, in and outside of the classroom.
That means that we need funding for high-quality resources, educators, and facilities — during school hours, and for extracurricular activities.
The problem is… the Ford government’s funding for Ontario’s After School Program has flatlined against inflation. What used to cover 90% of programming now supports less than 25%. This means costs are rising and the Ontario families who need it most are experiencing a decline in accessibility.
Moms are starting to see gaps in our kids’ development, and finding reliable and affordable after-school care is an increasing challenge. This is especially true for the working class moms and families who rely on organizations funded by Ontario’s After School Program.
Safe to say, this austerity isn’t good for children, families, or the government.
Good thing is, moms can take matters into our own hands! We make up over 25% of the Ontario electorate, which means that when we talk, politicians have to listen.
Moms Together is organizing a letter writing campaign to Minister Neil Lumdsen — he’s the government official in charge of funding for Ontario’s After School Program. We’re telling him why we are calling for an additional $40.5 million annually to ensure that 100% of the overall costs of the program are covered.
The Open Letter
An open letter to Neil Lumsden,
Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Dear Minister Lumdsen,
We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concerns about the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport’s lack of funding for the After-School Care program.
Ontario should be one of the best places in the world to get an education — in and outside of the classroom. However, recent reporting indicates that funding for the ASP has flatlined since its inception, and what used to cover 90% of program costs now supports less than 25%. This is concerning!
As you know, after-school programs play a massive role in supporting Ontario children’s development outside of the classroom. They improve physical health, strengthen IQ, and support the development of fine motor stills. Such programs also help socialize our children, and help them find connection with one another — much needed, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Importantly, after-school programs provide moms with a reliable, affordable after-school care option — especially critical for low-income and working moms.
Waitlists for afterschool programs are growing, with many programs facing potential cancellation due to lack of funding. We need more money to support our kids, not less.
Bottom line is, cuts aren’t good for our children, families, or the government. I urge the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport to invest $40.5 million annually in addition funding to ensure that 100% of overall program costs are covered.
Thank you very much for your consideration!
Signed,
Katie German, Moms Together
Allison Venditti, Moms at Work
Do you represent an organization that works with Canadian families and want to sign-on to this open letter? Reach out below and we will include you on the list.