At Committee of Council on July 15th, staff were directed to review targets for new spaces and opportunities. Staff note that child care operators continue to face significant challenges in trying to create more child care spaces. These include financial (increasing property values; high development costs, particularly for infrastructure and building code upgrades; and limited spaces with affordable leases) as well as operational (lack of spaces with a suitable area for outdoor play space, finding and retaining qualified staff; and meeting provincial licensing requirements). Several anticipated child care facilities are currently on hold or have been abandoned for one or more of these reasons. 

As a result, staff propose a targeted refresh of the Child Care Action Plan and exploring opportunities to support funding child care facilities through the provision of tools such as the ACCs and Density Bonus programs. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.