Olivia Chow vows to create 3,000 new child-care spaces

Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow says if elected she will create 3,000 new child-care spaces in the city, about half of them subsidized.

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"I'm creating more services for children and making sure the existing services are coordinated," Chow said on Tuesday. "Parents are scrambling to find child care for their kids. The situation is pretty dire."

Chow also vowed to renew the city's partnership with local school boards to better coordinate before- and after-school child care for young children.

Her plan also includes a centralized daycare wait list for the entire city.

Chow estimates the plan would cost $15 million. In a news release, she said recent changes to the provincial child-care funding formula will benefit Toronto, making more money available for child care.

"I'm the only person in this election talking about after-school programs and investing in good schools," she said.