Preparing for the $10-a-Day Child Care Goal: Ontario’s Roadmap to 2026
- Sara Santos-Vigneault
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Ontario is progressing toward the federal objective of providing $10-a-day child care by March 2026 through phased fee reductions under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. A significant milestone was achieved in January 2025 with the implementation of a $22-per-day fee cap for eligible families, marking a critical step in this multi-year plan.
The CWELCC system is a national initiative established through bilateral agreements between the federal government and each province and territory. Ontario signed its agreement on March 28, 2022, securing a six-year, $13.2 billion commitment from the federal government to lower fees for eligible children to an average of $10 per day by March 2026. This funding builds upon the province's existing investments in early years and child care services.
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Ontario's path to the $10-a-day target has unfolded through several important phases:
April 2022: Families began to see immediate relief through initial fee reductions of up to 25%, retroactive to April 1, 2022.
December 2022: Additional reductions brought the total fee decrease to 52.75% compared to March 2022 levels.
January 2025: A province-wide daily fee cap of $22 was introduced for children under six in CWELCC programs, resulting in additional savings of nearly $300 million in 2025 for families .
March 2026: The government aims to reach the target of a $10 average daily fee, with a strong focus on equitable access and quality of care.
Financial Impact on Families
The fee reductions have led to substantial savings for Ontario families. For example, a family paying $62 per day for child care in March 2022 would see their fees reduced to $29.30 per day by December 2022, and further down to $22 per day by January 2025. This translates to annual savings of over $10,000.
Workforce Development
Recognizing the critical role of early childhood educators (ECEs) in delivering quality child care, Ontario has implemented a comprehensive Child Care Workforce Strategy. Key initiatives include:
Wage Increases: As of January 2024, starting wages for Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) within the CWELCC system were raised to $23.86 per hour, with further increases planned for subsequent years .
Professional Development: The province is investing $18.5 million annually to fund dedicated professional development days, enhancing training opportunities for ECEs.
Recruitment and Retention: Efforts are underway to attract new educators through programs like the Dual Credit program and to support existing staff through wage enhancements and training subsidies.
Challenges and Outlook
While significant progress has been made, several challenges remain:
Workforce Shortages: Staffing shortages have led to long waitlists for child care, with some children aging out before securing a spot. Addressing these shortages is essential to meet the 2026 target .
Expansion of Child Care Spaces: Ontario has committed to creating 86,000 new licensed child care spaces by the end of 2026, predominantly through not-for-profit providers .
Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the CWELCC system will require ongoing collaboration between federal and provincial governments, as well as continuous monitoring and adaptation to address emerging issues.
Ontario's journey toward $10-a-day child care represents a significant transformation in the province's early learning and child care landscape. While notable strides have been made, continued efforts are necessary to overcome existing challenges and ensure the program's success by 2026.
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