Daycare spaces being added

But 485 new spots won’t fill demand

The city and County of Peterborough are still on track to add 485 new child-care spaces by 2026, according to a new city staff report.

At a committee meeting Monday night at city hall, councillors will review a progress report, and consider approving a growth plan to keep adding spaces.

It’s all part of the agreement Ontario reached with the federal government in March 2022, that aims to offer child care in Canada for $10 a day by 2026.

Under that agreement, provincial and federal government money will cover the cost to add a total of 86,000 new daycare spaces across Ontario, between 2022 and 2026.

It will mean 485 new spaces in the city and County of Peterborough.

Since the City of Peterborough administers licensed child care for both the city and county, on Monday city councillors will be asked to approve the growth plan that continues to add local daycare spaces.

There are currently 4,466 licensed child-care spaces in the city and County of Peterborough, states the staff report, including 87 new spots created in 2022, and 90 created in 2023 (for a total of 177 new spaces).

But it means 308 more spaces would need to be added in the city and county by 2026, to reach the goal of 485 new spaces over five years.

Child-care operators that would like to add spots can apply now to the city for funding, states the report.

So far this year, three child-care operators have been approved by the city for federal and provincial government funding to open a total of 122 new spaces, the report adds.

That leaves 23 more spaces yet to add, this year, to reach the goal of 145 new spaces for 2024.

Meanwhile, the report notes that demand for the less-expensive child care has far outstripped local supply. There were about 3,600 children on a wait-list for child care in the city and county, as of late March.

In Peterborough, child-care fees are about 52 per cent less costly than they had been two years ago, translating into a savings of $30 per day, per child.

That rate of $10 daily — already in effect in eight territories and provinces, including Quebec, for example — is still the goal for Ontario, where rates continue to undergo reduction.

Also on the agenda on Monday:

Pedestrian safety

Councillors will consider approving a city staff recommendation to add a new pedestrian crossover with rapid-flashing beacons along Maria Street at Mark Street, near the Rogers Cove splash pad.

City staff studied the area in response to resident concerns, and found that there’s both enough foot traffic and vehicular traffic in the area to warrant a crossover.

Affordable housing

Councillors will consider approving an increase in incentives to be offered to Habitat for Humanity as it builds a second condo complex on Leahy’s Lane.

In 2022, Habitat opened a 41unit complex at 21 Leahy’s Lane, at the corner of Parkhill Road East in the city’s northeast end, with the idea that a later phase of construction would add a 12-unit condo complex.

That second complex is now under construction. But the staff report states that the development fee refund of $237,827, estimated in 2022, is outdated: it was based on development fees from two years ago.

A new estimate, based on 2024 development charges, shows the project is eligible for a total refund of $291,622.

That’s an increase of $53,795 in refunds, which city council is being asked to approve on Monday.

Habitat is planning one single-bedroom unit, and 11 two-bedroom units, in the new development. No down payments will be charged to families to buy these condos, and the mortgage payments are geared to income.