MNO ELCC Team Announces the Summer Subsidy Programs for Child Care and Day Camp for School-age Children

Press Release

March 24, 2025

The Métis Nation of Ontario’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Program and Services team is excited to announce the creation of a new child care subsidy program to support families with school-age children in accessing high-quality child care or day camp during the summer months.

The program is for Métis families who need child care for their children when schools are closed during the summer and cannot access the regular subsidy program. This program supports the mandatory cost associated with child care or camp and, at this time, does not include specialized additional fees such as programming, application costs, clothing, equipment or materials, day trips/excursions, and food. The unique program calculates a subsidy based on a family’s income and expenses.

Families can choose the child care that best meets their needs, including day camps and licensed child care, and it can be a combination of child care or camp locations. Families must need a minimum of four weeks of child care over the summer holiday period (late June-Labour Day weekend)

Application opens: March 17, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the MNO Summer Child Care Subsidy Program:

• One parent or guardian must be an MNO citizen eligible for direct support as per the Direct Benefits Policy
• Applicants must have a child who has completed Junior Kindergarten-Grade 6 by June 2025
• Children must be attending a child care environment that is one of the following:
  • Licensed child care
  • Forest School
  • Day camp run by a municipality, post-secondary institution, or school board
  • Day camps run by community organizations such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc.
  • Day camps run by non-profit organizations, for example, La Clé,
  • Day camp run by sports associations, clubs, or groups, for example, soccer or golf camp.
  • Day camp run by museums, such as Science North.
  • Families must provide proof of enrollment or intended enrollment.
• Applicants must reside permanently in Ontario.
• The child must not be accessing the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Child Care Subsidy Program

Camp receipts submitted to the extra curricular support program are ineligible for reimbursement through the Summer Child Care Subsidy Program.

This program is restricted to families who have school-age children. Children must meet the meet following age requirements:

• Turn 5 years before December 31, 2025
• Turn 13 years old after August 29, 2025

The application portal closes on June 29, 2025, at 4:30 PM EST. Families who do not apply by this deadline or do not meet the eligibility requirements can apply to the extra curricular support program.

All Métis families who meet the qualifications are encouraged to apply using the button below.

For more information, please reach out to emmal@metisnation.org and include the region you live in.

ILR5