Muskoka’s network of licensed child-care providers can expect some additional assistance from the District of Muskoka this fall when the municipality increases its fee subsidies for day care.

The increases, which will range anywhere from nine to 20 per cent depending on the type of program, follow a recent review of child-care subsidy rates across Ontario. The review found that Muskoka’s rates are below average in every type of care.

For full-day infant child care, for example, Muskokas offers a $40 per day, per child subsidy. The average rate offered by comparable municipalities is $49.46.

The disparity could be due to a number of factors including higher wages in other areas, said Muskoka’s manager of children’s services Arfona Zwiers.

Zwiers noted that Canadian census data shows that household incomes in Muskoka are $14,000 below the provincial average.

“It doesn’t mean that’s the way it should be, but it is what it is,” said Zwiers to the district community services committee April 30.

Muskoka, she said, is now recommending increasing its rate for full-day infant care to $44, or by 10 per cent.

Other recommended subsidy rate increases include: a 12 per cent increase for full-day toddler and school-age care, from $33 per day to $37 per day, and $25 per day to $28 per day, respectively; and a 20 per cent increase in subsidy rates for extended-day home child care, from $50 per day to $60 per day.

The increases, which still require approval from district council, are expected to come into effect this fall. They will mark the first increase to Muskoka’s child-care fee subsidies since 2005.

In addition to parents, Zwiers said the fee increases are also expected to help child-care providers, who will now be able to augment their fees to keep up with rising operating costs.