Richard P. Peralta Local
Peel Parents Struggle as Before and After School Program Waitlists Surge, Advocacy Groups Call for Action

Shortage of BASP Spaces Leaves Hundreds of Parents in a Bind

For many parents in Peel Region, securing before and after school care has become a critical challenge, forcing them to reconsider career plans and rely on unlicensed child care providers. The ongoing shortage of licensed spaces in the region’s Before and After School Programs (BASP) has left families navigating long waitlists, uncertain availability, and rising costs.

Registered nurse Nicola Montgomery, who went on maternity leave last year, said she never imagined her career might be disrupted by child care availability.

“As it stands right now, I can’t go back,” Montgomery said. “I took an 18-month leave because I wasn’t sure I’d get child care. I would love to go back to the operating room, but I have to find something that works around school hours.”

Montgomery’s experience is not unique. Hundreds of families in Peel rely on BASP to bridge the gap between the school day and work, but demand continues to outpace supply.

Current Waitlist Situation in Peel Region

Peel Region began validating waitlist data for BASP in May 2024. According to the most recent data for the 2024–25 school year, 1,470 children are currently waiting for placement in licensed programs. Families often register their children on multiple program waitlists in hopes of securing a spot, making it difficult to determine the precise number of children affected.

While the region has 342 licensed BASP sites, the lack of a centralized waitlist means the full scope of the problem remains uncertain. The main providers in Peel include:

  • PLASP Child Care Services: Approximately 890 children on its waitlist.

  • Family Day Care: Around 290 children waiting.

  • YMCA of Greater Toronto: 124 children on waitlists.

Mississauga mother Anjali Rego highlighted the challenge firsthand when her older daughter lost her PLASP spot after changing schools.

“We needed to shift her spot to the new school, but PLASP didn’t allow that,” Rego explained. “We’ve had to rely on an unlicensed home child care provider for her while our younger daughter remains in the program. Families need safe, on-site care instead of depending on unlicensed options.”

Rising Demand Amid Limited Supply

The demand for school-age child care has surged as parents return to in-person work, yet the availability of BASP spaces is shrinking. Carolyn Ferns, public policy co-ordinator at the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), described the situation as a “perfect storm.”

“Parents are being asked to return to offices, but school-age child care spaces are going down while fees continue to rise,” Ferns said.

Federal and provincial initiatives such as the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program have successfully capped preschool fees at $22 a day, providing relief for younger children. However, school-age children were excluded from this funding model, leaving families struggling with high BASP costs despite lower preschool fees.

The financial pressure has forced many parents to turn to unlicensed care providers or manage pickups themselves rather than enroll their children in formal programs. Providers are also facing economic constraints; programs for school-age children are increasingly financially unviable, and spaces continue to close.

Staffing Shortages Complicate Expansion Efforts

According to a PLASP spokesperson, expanding BASP programs involves balancing waitlists, staffing, licensing, and regulatory requirements. Staffing shortages remain a key challenge. Early childhood educators (ECEs) often earn around $23.86 an hour while working split shifts with unpaid gaps, making recruitment and retention difficult.

“It’s hard to staff programs where educators work mornings and afternoons with hours in between,” Ferns said, noting that Ontario’s lack of a provincial wage grid worsens the issue.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto has increased licensed BASP spaces at 21 locations but is constrained by staffing ratios and licensing limits. While the region provides funding, school boards are legally responsible for ensuring BASP spaces are available where there is “sufficient demand,” though the term is undefined and no mandatory number of spots exists.

School Boards’ Role and Limitations

David Green, chair of the Peel District School Board (PDSB), acknowledged parental frustration but emphasized the board’s limited role.

“Our responsibility is to provide space in schools, but staffing, funding, and licensing remain the provider’s responsibility,” Green said.

Similarly, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), which partners with PLASP, YMCA, and Family Day, reported waitlists at multiple sites. A spokesperson confirmed the board is monitoring demand and working with the region to open new programs when staffing and enrolment permit.

Advocacy Calls for Policy Change

Advocates argue that the fragmented approach to child care has contributed to inequities, particularly for school-age children. The OCBCC’s September 2025 report, Roadmap to Universal Child Care in Ontario, highlights the gap in CWELCC coverage and urges integration of school-age programs into the provincial framework.

“Leaving school-age care out of CWELCC was a policy mistake,” Ferns said. “Families need a system that’s affordable, equitable, and available when they need it.”

The coalition recommends a provincial wage grid of $35–$45 per hour with benefits and pensions to retain qualified ECEs, alongside dedicated funding for school-age child care.

Provincial Funding and Programs

The Ontario Ministry of Education emphasized record investments in affordable child care and recently launched a Workforce Strategy aimed at improving wages and working conditions. The Ministry of Sport, responsible for BASP, announced a $43.9 million investment over three years to support after-school programs for 13,000 children provincewide.

Non-profits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs will receive funding for recreation and tutoring programs, but PLASP has not been allocated any provincial funding, leaving questions unanswered about eligibility criteria and distribution.

Families Turn to Unlicensed Care

For many parents, the lack of accessible, licensed BASP options has meant turning to unlicensed home daycare providers. Mississauga mother Leah Rosalak described the stress of navigating this system:

“We waited more than a year to enrol our daughter, only to be put back on the waitlist on registration day. We eventually had to turn to an unlicensed provider. Even though she was trustworthy, not every family is so fortunate. It’s a difficult position to be in — leaving children with someone unknown and unlicensed.”

Rosalak’s daughter feels excluded seeing classmates in the school program, highlighting the emotional as well as logistical impact of the BASP shortage.

Conclusion: Urgent Need for Reform

The BASP waitlists in Peel Region underscore a broader systemic challenge in Ontario’s child care framework. While preschool programs have benefited from CWELCC funding, school-age care remains under-supported, leaving families facing high costs, limited availability, and uncertain staffing.

Advocates stress that treating child care as essential infrastructure, rather than a patchwork of programs, is crucial for equity, affordability, and accessibility. Integrating school-age programs into provincial funding, improving wages for educators, and expanding licensed spaces could help ensure that families no longer have to compromise their careers or children’s well-being due to a shortage of care.