Overview

We collect, analyze and use information relating to Ontario’s child care and early years sector, including personal information, to meet our obligations under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA). This includes:

  • administering the CCEYA and regulations under the Act
  • ensuring compliance with the CCEYA and regulations under the Act
  • planning, delivering, evaluating and monitoring child care and early years programs and services
  • allocating resources to child care and early years programs and services, if they are established, administered, operated or funded by the ministry
  • detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud and the unauthorized receipt of services and benefits related to ministry funding for child care and early years programs and services
  • determining or verifying a person's eligibility to participate in a child care or early years program, service or to receive financial assistance under the CCEYA
  • implementing risk management, error management or activities to improve or maintain the quality of the programs and services that the ministry provides or funds
  • conducting evaluations of child care and early years programs and services
  • conducting research and analysis, including longitudinal studies, surveys, and statistical activities conducted by or on behalf of the ministry for purposes that relate to:
    • child care and early years programs and services
    • education
    • the transition from child care and early years programs and services to school, and the resulting outcomes
    • the matters of provincial interest under section 49 of the CCEYA
    • programs and services that support the learning, development, health and well-being of children, including programs and services provided or funded by other ministries

Section 51.1 of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 also allows us to share certain information, including personal information, with the College of Early Childhood Educators if the information is necessary for the College to carry out its mandate, and to require the College to share the same range of information with the ministry for purposes related to the ministry’s powers and duties under that Act, the Education Act, or the CCEYA.

What information we collect

We may collect child care and early years program information from several sources throughout the year, including:

  • unlicensed and licensed child care providers
  • members of the public
  • across Ontario ministries, agencies, institutions or entities as required, including:
    • children's aid societies
    • municipal authorities
    • schools, school boards and school authorities
  • the College of Early Childhood Educators
  • any other person or organization who might have information relevant to enforcement activities

Summary of the personal information that we collect

Here is the list of personal information that we collect about child care workers and families.

Child care workers

  • qualifications
  • languages spoken
  • years of experience
  • wages

Families connected to child care

  • enrolment within child care settings

How we collect and handle personal information 

We can collect personal information from organizations or other individuals listed above and not directly from the individual the information relates to. This refers to an indirect collection of information.

If any information that we collect relates to an identifiable individual (for example, the names of a parent and child using a licensed child care), we consider it to be personal information.

If other information (for example, a general label like “early childhood educator” or “child” instead of a personal name) will serve the purpose of the collection or use, we do not use personal information.

Legal basis to collect personal information

The ministry has the authority to collect personal information, directly or indirectly, under subsection 70 (1) of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and subsection 51.1(2) of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007.

We are bound by privacy protection rules under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and take all necessary steps to safeguard the personal information that we collect.

Individuals have a right to access their own personal information under FIPPA.

For further information about the collection of personal information, please contact the Manager, Investigations and Enforcement Unit:

  • by email: childcare_ontario@ontario.ca
  • by telephone:  1-877-510-5333
  • by mail:
    • Manager – Investigations and Enforcement Unit
      Child Care Branch
      Ministry of Education
      77 Wellesley Street West, PO Box 980
      Toronto, Ontario
      M7A 1N3