Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON M5V 3A4
TO: Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Service Administration Boards, Chiefs of First Nations with Child Care Agreements, Licensed Child Care Programs and Licensed Child Care Administrators
FROM: Shannon Fuller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division
DATE: March 31, 2020
SUBJECT: Extension of Emergency and Ministerial Orders
To begin, I would like to acknowledge your steadfast commitment to the health and wellbeing of Ontario families and to our vital child care sector during the COVID-19 outbreak. These are challenging times. Your patience is greatly appreciated and your ongoing partnership will be crucial going forward.
Yesterday, the Premier of Ontario announced, on the advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health and other leading public health officials, the extension of the declaration of emergency across the province and the continued closure of licensed child care centres, and all facilities providing indoor recreational programs including EarlyON Child and Family Centres. The order will remain in place until April 13, 2020, at which point it will be reassessed and considered for extension.
The order to close does not apply to those licensed child care centres approved to provide emergency care for health care and other eligible frontline workers. Additionally, it does not currently apply to home-based child care (licensed and unlicensed).
Today, the Minister of Education announced the extension of the Ministerial order to close all publicly funded schools. This means that all Ontario schools, and school-based child care centres, have been ordered to remain closed from March 14, 2020 through to May 1, 2020.
On March 28, 2020, the government issued an emergency order to immediately prohibit organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people. This does not apply to those licensed child care centres approved to provide emergency care for health care and frontline workers. Additionally, it does not currently apply to home-based child care (licensed and unlicensed).
As the COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario continues to evolve, we are committed to keeping you informed and to keeping everyone safe. Thank you again for your flexibility and continued collaboration.
Sincerely,
Shannon Fuller
