Minister gains new power to support child care operators; parents can now request Ontario education numbers for their children

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Two practical changes were made to Ontario's child care law. First, the Minister is now explicitly authorized to provide services that support child care operators and service system managers in carrying out their responsibilities under the Act — this is a new, distinct power added alongside existing funding and financial assistance powers. Second, the rules around assigning Ontario education numbers to children have been expanded: previously, a number could only be assigned when a child was registering in a licensed child care or early years program; now, a parent can also request a number for their child independently of any program registration. The list of who is authorized to collect, use, and disclose personal information for number assignment purposes has also been updated — the Minister (rather than ministry officers and employees) is now named, and program operators are only authorized to handle personal information in connection with children registering in a program. Child care operators, service system managers, and parents of young children should be aware of these changes.

Who this affects: child care operators · early years program operators · service system managers · parents of young children · First Nations administering child care services