Affordable Child Care in Orléans

MPp Stephen Blais meets with Trevor McAlmont, President & CEO of the YMCA of the National Capital Region, along with Cass Valle, Gerly, and Morgan.

MPP Stephen Blais recently visited the Avalon YMCA Child Care Centre to hear directly from providers about the growing demand for affordable child care in Ottawa’s east end.

He was joined by Trevor McAlmont, President & CEO of the YMCA of the National Capital Region, along with Cass Valle, Gerly, and Morgan, who led the visit and shared firsthand insight into the pressures facing families and child care operators.

One challenge was particularly clear: the ongoing shortage of French-language child care spaces and educators, especially in fast-growing communities like Orléans. Even as the largest child care provider in Orléans, the YMCA continues to struggle with limitations created by the CWELCC directed growth model and the level of provincial funding allocated to Ottawa.

While the City of Ottawa applies an equity lens in distributing available spaces, there are simply not enough provincially funded child care spots, particularly for French-language care, given the pace of growth in the east end. The City’s rules around how subsidized funding is allocated further constrain the ability of providers to respond to local demand.

The YMCA remains committed to expanding child care capacity, including in Orléans, but doing so will require stronger provincial support and active partnerships. Expanding programming depends on access to appropriate space and collaborative agreements with schools, community centres, and new developments to ensure child care infrastructure keeps pace with community growth.

Child care is essential infrastructure. Orléans families deserve access that reflects both the community’s rapid growth and its bilingual reality.