The High Daycare Costs in Toronto

Let’s talk daycare.

Currently, Toronto ranks highest in the country when it comes to daycare costs. For a child that is 12 months old it averages around $1800 a month and once your child reaches 18 months the cost goes down to $1200. That is per child. Per month. If I was to put just two kids in daycare full-time, my daycare costs would exceed my mortgage payment.

In a city where our home costs are inflated, our food costs are staggering and even entertainment seems to cost an arm and a leg there is no way that we could afford to put our kids in daycare unless we were earning 6 figures combined from both parents a year. We are not. 

When it comes to deciding whether to go back to work or stay home with your child the answer is seemingly already made for most. It is not feasible to spend 40 hours a week (plus travel) away from your child only to give most of your hard-earned money to a stranger who is raising your child.

Although Toronto does have a childcare subsidy in place once you apply it is only when you get to the top of the list do you have your actual meeting to determine if you are eligible. Once you are approved you then go on a job search to find a job that will not only pay the bills but not cause you to pull your hair out from stress.

Education and employment should not be hindered due to the lack of a feasible, reliable and safe option for child care.

The system is broken and difficult to get into. For those who don’t have a choice they pay the fees and hope for a miracle to get to the top of the list before their initiative to work or go to school gets defeated.

The government should be doing more to enable parents to either get an education or a job to support their family. Maybe implementing a system like Montreal currently has where there is a capped $7 a day fee would be the answer in getting more people bettering themselves and their families lives. Education and employment should not be hindered due to the lack of a feasible, reliable and safe option for child care.

I for one will still be over here taking care of my child that has separation anxiety as even free daycare would not help us out 😉

What do you think of the current stats regarding childcare?

Sources:

http://www.torontomike.com/2016/04/the_crippling_cost_of_daycare_in_o.html

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/11/10/gta_childcare_costs_tops_in_national_study.html

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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