Consent Motion:
Whereas through Report CS-19-49, Council authorized the Commissioner, Community & Operations Services to enter into an agreement with Durham Region to administer the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program; and,
Whereas the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program provides childcare fee assistance to eligible families in Durham Region; and,
Whereas entering into an agreement with Durham Region allowed Oshawa residents who are recipients of the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program to register for City of Oshawa camp programs as an alternative for childcare; and,
Whereas the cost to attend a City of Oshawa camp program is funded either entirely by Durham Region or by a contribution from both Durham Region and the parents/guardians of the children attending the camp program based on the parents/guardians income; and,
Whereas an agreement was executed on January 1, 2023 for a term of three (3) years, commencing on January 1, 2023 and concluding on December 31, 2025; and,
Whereas in 2025, a total of 331 registrations were processed for 46 families and 76 children; and,
Whereas the administration of the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program requires significant manual processing, invoicing, coordination, payment reconciliation, attendance reconciliation and data entry; and,
Whereas due to the unique administrative requirements of the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program, the program cannot be supported by front line Customer Service Representatives in Recreation Services who are typically responsible for program registration and customer service; and,
Whereas the total number of hours dedicated by City of Oshawa staff to the administration of the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program in 2025 was approximately 270 hours or the equivalent of 37 workdays or 7.5 weeks; and,
Whereas the high administrative demands of the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program are not sustainable and are negatively impacting the ability of City of Oshawa staff assigned to administer the program to complete their regular daily responsibilities; and,
Whereas the City of Oshawa provides alternative financial assistance programs to children of Oshawa residents such as the Recreation Fee Assistance Program, the Recreation Access Membership Program, Canadian Tire Jumpstart and in partnership with Durham Region the Recreation Services Certificate Program;
Therefore based on Item CNCL-25-91 dated December 10, 2025 concerning the Durham Region Child Care Subsidy:
- That Council direct staff to advise Durham Region that upon the conclusion of the current agreement on December 31, 2025, the City is unable to provide the administrative support required to support the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program in its current format;
- That Council direct staff to engage with Durham Region to improve the administrative components of the program to streamline the process, create efficiencies and reduce the administrative responsibilities of the City; and,
- That the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services be authorized to enter into a new agreement with Durham Region, that is mutually beneficial to both parties, to provide the Durham Region Childcare Subsidy Program to Oshawa residents, in a form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner, Community and Operations Services, the Commissioner, Corporate and Finance Services and the City Solicitor.