Eligibility for fee subsidy (net income, 1998)
	Turning point	Break-even point
1 parent, 1 child	$12,000	$35,800
2 parents, 2 children	16,800	40,300

The turning point is the income level up to which full subsidy is available. Partial subsidy is available up to the break-even point at which income subsidy ceases.

Subsidies are based on the actual child care fee rather than a flat rate. The method of calculation is 50% of the fee, plus a basic amount of $4/day. Maximum subsidy/child was $16.14/day in 1998. Child care centres and family day care may surcharge subsidized parents more than the maximum daily subsidy.

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR REGULATED CHILD CARE (1998)

One-time funding

Project management grant   Available to early childhood agencies with a parent majority board of directors and new family day care agencies. Centres are eligible to receive up to $6,512.

Start-up grant   Available to early childhood agencies with a majority parent board of directors and school boards. Up to 50% of their start-up costs covered to a maximum of $182,840 for owned premises and $109,605 for rented premises.

Special needs funding   Funds are available to all non- and for-profit licensed programs to assist in the integration of children with special needs.

Relocation grant   Up to 50% of actual moving costs available to early childhood agencies. Maximum of $171,104 for owned premises and $97,227 for rented premises.

A maximum grant of $65,138 may be used for capital improvements only if the centre is in the process of buying the premises.

Recurring funding

Operating grants   Available to non-profit centres with parent majority boards of directors or school boards (for programs other than school-age child care.)

Special needs school-age grants    School-age child care services receive a flat rate per child with special needs from the Ministry of Education of $1,000 for each child attending the service on a regular basis, and $500 for each child that attends on an irregular basis.

Other funding

Group benefit grants   All early childhood agencies and child care centres are eligible for grants to purchase group insurance, including maternity leave, extended health and dental benefits, from a designated insurance company. The amount of the grant is equivalent to 1.28% for extended health and dental benefits and 1.72% of the total insurable payroll for maternity leave.

Child care organization grants   Organizations which promote the development and maintenance of quality child care through public information and education are eligible to receive $25,000 plus $500 for each member, up to a maximum of 100 and $100 for each additional member.

FEDERAL FUNDING

SALARIES (1998)

Mean gross hourly wage for child care staff (full and part-time staff combined)
Centres
Assistant Teachers	$8.12
Teachers	11.04
Teachers Directors	14.05
Administrative Directors	17.41
Family day care
Information not available

FEES (1998)

Median monthly parent fees for full-time care
Centres
Infants (Age 0-17 mos)	$477
Toddlers (Age 18 mos - 3 yrs)	455
Preschooler *	440
School-age	Information not available
Average daily fee in family day care
Age three	$19.03
* In Québec, this category refers only to 3-year -olds and a limited number of 4-year-olds. At the time of data collection, most 4-year-olds in Québec child care were in $5/child care, and 5-year-olds were in full-day kindergarten. (See RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.)