Even More Frontline Workers In Ontario Are Newly Eligible For Free Emergency Child Care
Grocery store and pharmacy workers are now eligible for Ontario's free child care program in places where schools are closed for in-person learning.
On Monday, the provincial government announced the expanded list of frontline workers who are eligible for the program as of Wednesday, January 27.
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January 27
When the new list of people can start accessing the program
The expanded list includes some factory workers, teachers, and truck drivers:
- Individuals working in fuel distribution and oil refineries;
- Education staff who are required to report to work in person while their children continue with remote learning;
- Grocery store and pharmacy workers;
- Truck drivers;
- Farmers and those who support food or agricultural product supply chains;
- Individuals involved in the collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste; and
- Individuals working in the manufacturing and distribution of disinfectants and sanitizers.
"This expansion is intended to support workers and their families with child care options at no cost in regions where students continue to learn remotely," the government said in the press release.
The previous list of workers who are eligible for the program is available on the government's website.
Speaking to CP24, Ontario's Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the expansion would impact approximately 500,000 working parents in the province.
Ontario is currently in the middle of a stay-at-home order, but some schools in the province will open today.