BackOntario Ombudsman André Marin called on the province to take urgent action to protect children in unlicensed daycares, after his latest investigation revealed systemic government ineptitude that has put them at risk for years.
Mr. Marin’s latest report, Careless About Child Care, is the result of a probe sparked by the July 2013 death of two-year-old Eva Ravikovich in what Mr. Marin calls a “brazenly illegal” unlicensed home daycare in Vaughan. Some 29 children and 14 dogs were allegedly found amid unsanitary and dangerous conditions at the location. The Ministry of Education later discovered that it had received five complaints about the same daycare in the past, but failed to follow up as required.
Eva was one of four children in the Greater Toronto Area to die in unlicensed care in a seven-month period in 2013-2014. However, the Ombudsman’s investigation revealed a “legacy of dysfunction” dating back several years that was compounded when responsibility for daycare was shifted from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to Education in 2012.
The archaically-named Day Nurseries Act dates back to 1946 and hasn’t had a comprehensive review since 1983, despite coroner’s inquests urging reform after other child deaths, Mr. Marin notes. As well, the province rarely and inconsistently enforces the few lax rules it has for unlicensed daycare operators and has done little to educate parents, care providers and even its own staff about them. Meanwhile, high costs and long waiting lists for licensed daycare spaces have driven more and more families to the unlicensed
sector.
Among the systemic problems the Ombudsman identifies in this report:
- Sloppy, inconsistent complaint intake practices and an inadequate complaint tracking system;
- Ministry guidelines not followed, inspections delayed or never done;
- Staff untrained in conducting investigations or on the legislation they enforce;
- Poor inspection practices, careless evidence gathering; and
- Failure to involve or educate parents about daycare standards and facilities that are not in compliance with them.
For more information, please read the institution's full Report "Careless About Child Care" or the corresponding Press Release.
Source: Ombudsman of Ontario, CANADA
