Operational Start Up Fund for School Age Care

• Costs associated with the development of an inclusion policy
• Costs associated with the development of program policies required by licensing (e.g. active play, illness, etc.)
• Housewares (e.g., pots, pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans)
• Lease costs
• Legal costs (must be directly related to the child care facility operation, and unrelated to any ongoing legal disputes)
• Licensing applications
• Marketing and advertising (e.g., website development, social media advertising, flyers, brochures, staff recruitment)
• Office supplies
• Operational start-up costs and activities (e.g., utilities, planning, curriculum development and instructional planning)
• Parent check-in technology (e.g., staff cell phones, online parent portal software subscriptions, tablets)
• Small appliances (e.g., vacuums, air purifiers, portable heaters, portable fans)
• Staff salaries and benefits in relation to the operation of the SACSG Program and SACSG Spaces
• Toys, art supplies, books and games
• Training and certifications (e.g., First Aid, CPR, Criminal Record Check, Responsible Adult)

The ministry has the sole discretion to determine whether a cost is eligible.

• Bad debts
• Business related meals/entertainment
• Fixed outdoor play equipment (e.g. climbing structure) and/or program equipment eligible for Ministry of Infrastructure Child Care Capital funding
• Fundraising
• Insurance for operations
• Loans
• Networking activities (e.g., costs related to attending or hosting conferences/events/tradeshows, costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying with any level of government, meals, and travel expenses, etc.)
• Proprietary programming
• Renovations
• Staff gifts
• Taxes (e.g. property tax)
• Travel expenses
• Vehicle rentals

  Any ineligible costs are the financial responsibility of the operator.

Funding recipients submit Annual Reports using the online Annual Report for the duration of their commitment period in accordance with their signed funding agreement.

• Annual report

The ministry may conduct random internal audits of Operational Start-Up Fund initiatives. Recipients are required to retain all financial records and proof of payment for seven years as outlined in the signed funding agreement.

Retain proof of payment for all eligible costs for financial reconciliation. Proof of payment should reflect the purchase of all eligible costs and include the following components:

1. Receipts, such as transaction receipts, bank statements, copies of cheques, etc.
2. Invoices with zero-dollar balances or corresponding receipt of payment if applicable
3. Name of company or individual from which items or services were purchased
4. Date of purchase

Financial Reconciliation Extension Request

Funding recipients who are unable to submit the required Financial Reconciliation Report and supporting documentation, may request an extension for submission. Upon review, the ministry will confirm whether your extension request has been approved via email.

• Financial Reconciliation Extension Request

Financial Reconciliation Report

Funding recipients submit the reconciliation report to the ministry within 4 months of the licensing date. The report includes the following:

• The Financial Reconciliation Report must be dated and signed by an authorized signatory of the organization
• The Itemized Expense Report must be dated and signed by the organization’s authorized financial signatory as outlined in the signed funding agreement, who possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to certify the correctness and completeness of the report. This report must list all eligible costs incurred and paid by the funding recipient
• All current Community Care Facility Licenses issued under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act must be provided

For detailed instructions to support completion of the Financial Reconciliation Report please review the following:

• Financial Reconciliation Resource