Ontario's stricter parking rules after deadly daycare crash cause confusion, raise accessibility concerns

New Ontario parking rules brought in after an SUV crashed into a daycare, killing one and injuring nine, are causing confusion and making it more difficult for some parents to get to the facilities.

Last week, an SUV crashed into a Richmond Hill child-care centre, killing a 1½-year-old boy and injuring six children and three adults. The driver, a man in his seventies, was arrested and charged.

Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra on Monday told all licensed daycare providers to immediately remove parking spaces adjacent to daycare entryways, playgrounds, windows and exterior walls of classrooms until additional safety measures are implemented.

The new parking directive, however, has led to confusion at some daycare centres about which parking spaces should be blocked off.

One daycare in Wingham, a Huron County community in southwestern Ontario, closed the entire parking lot this week, said Dani McKague, a mom of two. Her husband has cerebral palsy and drives their children to the facility each morning.

"You had to park across the street, walk the children across and take them through the parking lot into the centre, which was an issue," Dani said.

When she brought the issue to the daycare's attention, she was told it was a ministry directive and their hands were tied. She said she called her member of provincial parliament (MPP) and had further conversations with the centre's operators, leading to more spots being opened in the parking lot.

Calandra instructed daycare operators to temporarily block off spaces with pylons, signage or other barriers while they work on more permanent barricades.

"Where you do not control the parking spaces adjacent to your facility, you are to connect with your landlord immediately and discuss measures that can be put in place to better protect children at your centre," the letter to them stated.

Who's responsible for paying for permanent barricades was not immediately clear.

One operator, London Bridge, which runs 15 daycares in London, Sarnia and surrounding counties, has installed temporary barricades.

Parking at some of its locations has been severely limited, according to executive director Angela Woodburn, adding that neighbouring businesses have so far been supportive in offering extra parking.

"We're working closely with municipalities and landlords just to assess each situation carefully," Woodburn said. "Our focus remains on making thoughtful, informed decisions that support the well-being of everyone in our child-care environment."

Woodburn is hopeful the ministry will make the long-term requirements clearer. CBC News has ask the ministry for clarification, but a response was not made available by publication time.

Meanwhile, McKague believes that while the new rules are well-intended, they fail to take people with disabilities into account and are causing more stress for parents.

She said the ministry should have looked at the safety concerns specific to each centre, rather than apply a one-size-fits-all policy.

"It's just hard if you have two little kids and have to carry one … little kids are excited when the day is over, and there are just 1,000 things that can happen and you don't want to take them into a busier and more crowded area of cars."