Ontario’s affordable child-care program extended, but not to $10 a day
Ontario and the federal government have extended their child-care funding agreement for four years, securing stability until 2031. However, the deal does not include plans to lower average daily fees to the $10 target, maintaining the current $19 average instead.
Why it matters
This agreement highlights the ongoing fiscal challenges and policy trade-offs involved in implementing national social programs in Canada.
Ontario and the federal government have agreed to extend the national affordable child-care program in the province for another four years, but it comes with no promises of further lowering the fees parents pay.
The province is one of only two, including Alberta, that had not reached longer-term deals beyond the program’s initial five years, and securing funding until at least 2031 will give operators and parents some certainty.
But what it may not do is see the program live up to its signature goal – lowering parent fees to an average of $10 a day.
While about half of the provinces are offering average fees at that level, Ontario’s are an average of $19 a day, capped at $22. In its new four-year agreement with the federal government, Ontario has committed to maintain fees at that level until June 30, 2027.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in