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Too many families across Canada lack access to affordable, inclusive and high‑quality child care. That is why the Government of Canada has laid out a plan to provide parents in Canada with, on average, $10‑a‑day child care for children under six years old. This plan will make life more affordable for families, create new jobs, get parents—especially women—back into the workforce, and grow the middle class, while giving every child a real and fair chance at success.
Today, the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, visited Andrew Fleck Children’s Services in Ottawa, Ontario, to speak with parents and Early Childhood Educators about recent child care fee reductions they are seeing as part of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System.
Beginning this week, parents at Andrew Fleck Children’s Services with children under the age of six will see their child care fees reduced by an average of 25 percent retroactive to April 1, 2022, saving families an average of about $2,200 per child.
The Minister highlighted that these fee reductions will be available to parents across the province whose child care providers opt into the Canada-wide system. By the end of December 2022, fees for licensed child care for children under six will be further reduced, resulting in a total reduction of an average of 50%, which could save Ontario families about $6,000 per child each year.
The time for a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System is now. The Government of Canada continues to work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners across the country to ensure that all families have access to affordable, high‑quality, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care, no matter where they live.
Quotes“The Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement puts families first, and will ensure every child has access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive child care. This investment will provide much-needed support to reduce the cost of living for families with young children. The Government of Canada remains focused on making life more affordable for families and giving every child the best possible start in life.”
– Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould
Quick facts“Being able to implement the Canada-wide early learning and Child Care program for families attending our Andrew Fleck Children’s Services programs is such an honour. Knowing how much of a difference this will make in the lives of children and their parents gives me goose bumps – its been a journey and while there is more to do to ensure an early learning experience in licensed child care is available for all children in all communities, we are on the right path”
– Kim Hiscott, Early Childhood Educator and Executive Director of Andrew Fleck Children’s Services
As part of Budget 2021, the Government of Canada made a transformative investment of over $27 billion over five years to build a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System with provinces and territories. Combined with other investments, including in Indigenous early learning and child care, up to $30 billion over five years will be provided in support of early learning and child care.
Ontario signed on to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care in March 2022. Under the Canada-wide agreement, the federal government will provide $10.2 billion over five years to Ontario.
Prior to signing the Canada-wide agreement with Ontario, the Government of Canada had already invested more than $586 million in early learning and child care in the province since 2017.