Key Vote: Restoring Childcare Subsidies

Rejecting the motion marked a huge economic mistake. The Toronto City Summit estimated that investment in childcare yields a 700% rate of return. Every dollar invested in childcare comes back sevenfold later in the form of higher taxes, reduced crime, and savings to the justice system. It costs the city $2,297 to subsidize a family on welfare, but only $1,161 to subsidize a childcare space. Subsidizing childcare spaces frees up parents to work and enables them to get off social assistance, resulting in savings of $1,136 per family.

Economics aside, a council that prized itself on equality of opportunity would not have voted as it did. Young children have no control over the economic status of their parents. Poor children should not be denied childcare just because their parents are poor. An injustice this early will cost society heavily later on.

Vote Content: That 200 childcare spaces be subsidized for $1.125 million

Voting AGAINST childcare subsidy: 21
Balkissoon, Di Giorgio, Disero, Duguid, Feldman, Ford, Hall, Holyday, Kelly, Lastman, Li Preti, Lindsay Luby, Milczyn, Minnan-Wong, Moeser, Nunziata, Ootes, Pitfield, Shiner, Soknacki, Sutherland

Voting FOR childcare subsidy: 21
Altobello, Ashton, Augimeri, Bussin, Cho, Chow, Filion, Flint, Johnston, Jones, Korwin-Kuczynski, Mammoliti, McConnell, Mihevc, Miller, Moscoe, Rae, Shaw, Silva, Tziretas, Walker

Vote Date: March 2003

Vote Specifics: Operating Program: Community and Neighbourhood Services - Children's Services

For more information, please see the City Council Minutes. (PDF file opens in a new window.)