Ontario is expanding the list of essential workers eligible to receive emergency childcare. Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced those who are eligible at a news conference this morning (Saturday).
On Thursday, the province announced elementary school students across southern Ontario would not be returning to in-person classes this Monday as scheduled, but would continue learning online until at least Jan. 25.
Those now eligible include:
- Front-line staff in Children’s Aid Societies and residential services
- Individuals working in developmental services, violence against women services, and antihuman trafficking
- Individuals working in victims’ services
- Individuals engaged in interpreting or intervenor services for persons who are deaf or deafblind
- Individuals working in a homeless shelter or providing services to homeless persons
- Food safety inspectors and individuals working in the processing, manufacturing or distribution of food and beverages
- Provincial court services personnel, including Indigenous court workers
- OPS staff employed in Radiation Protection Services
- RCMP and Canada Border Services
- Canada Post
- Pharma and medical device manufacturing and distribution
- Power workers
- Non-municipal water and wastewater workers
- Education staff who are required to attend schools to provide in-person instruction and support to students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning
- Employees of a hotel or motel that is acting as an isolation centre, health care centre, vaccine clinic or housing essential workers
