Ontario Parents Face Stagnant Child Care Fees Despite Promises

Parents in Ontario will not see a reduction in child care fees this year, despite hopes for a more affordable system. The provincial government has confirmed that without a renewed deal with the federal government, fees could rise significantly when the current agreement expires in March 2026. This has raised concerns among families who were looking forward to a target of $10-a-day child care, initially promised for September 2025.

In November, the Ontario government announced a one-year extension of the national Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, which provided some relief. Carolyn Ferns, policy coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, expressed gratitude for the extension but highlighted the disappointment felt by many parents. “We knew that meant at least one more year of security in this program,” Ferns stated. “Then, once the details came out, we learned that child-care fees are not going to be further reduced as had been promised.”

The initial agreement set Ontario on a path to reach the $10-a-day benchmark, but that goal has now been delayed multiple times. The province originally targeted September 2025, later shifting the date to March 2026, and now the fee reductions appear to be stalled indefinitely. Currently, the average daily fee for child care in Ontario stands at $19, a significant financial burden for many families.

Ferns emphasized that most other provinces and territories have already achieved the $10-a-day average, making Ontario’s situation particularly concerning. “We need that same benefit here in Ontario for our families,” she said. Before the implementation of the CWELCC program, Ontario had the highest child care fees in Canada, especially in the Greater Toronto Area.

The federal government has contributed an additional $695 million as part of the extension to maintain fee stability, but no further reductions in costs are anticipated, according to Ontario’s Education Minister, Paul Calandra. The CWELCC agreement, signed in March 2022, outlines a total of $10.23 billion in funding over five years for child care initiatives.

In statements, both Calandra and Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu have expressed a commitment to reducing fees further. “I think we need to hold them to it,” Ferns remarked, underscoring the necessity for accountability in achieving these targets.

Looking ahead, Emma Testani, a spokesperson for Calandra’s office, described the extension as providing “stability for families.” The government is currently negotiating with federal partners to establish a long-term agreement that aims to offer high-quality, affordable child care across Ontario.

The ongoing situation highlights the importance of child care access for economic stability and family well-being. Kozelj, a spokesperson from Hajdu’s office, noted that eight provinces and territories have already met their $10-a-day goals, emphasizing that “affordable child care is essential to Canada’s economy.”

Despite the benefits realized thus far, Ferns pointed out that much work remains to increase child care accessibility in the province. Ontario’s auditor general recently reported that by December 2024, only 36,000 new spaces had been created out of a targeted 48,000, indicating a significant shortfall in expanding available services.

A critical factor contributing to this shortfall is the ongoing shortage of early childhood educators (ECEs). The auditor general indicated that Ontario will require an additional 10,000 ECEs by 2026 to meet demand. Ferns highlighted that while graduates are produced in sufficient numbers, many do not remain in the child care sector due to low wages, opting instead for more lucrative opportunities in other fields.

Ferns explained that the lack of staffing is impacting child care facilities across Ontario, with many unable to operate at full capacity due to workforce shortages. “Families that are waiting for child care find out that there’s the physical space at the child care centre, but we just need to ensure decent work for ECEs,” she stated.

To address these challenges, Ferns urged the government to take more ambitious steps in increasing child care facilities and leveraging publicly available buildings and land. The path forward for Ontario families hinges on effective collaboration between provincial and federal governments to create a sustainable, affordable child care system.