# Staging Building Canada's Child Care System

> Universal Child care through the $10 a day plan

Language: en
URL: https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/

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## Pages

- [Privacy Policy](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/privacy-policy/): Privacy policy Who we are The Childcare Resource and Research Unit created this website. Our main website address is https://childcarecanada.org, and this website's address is https://buildingchildcare.ca. How this website was built The website manager used an AI assistant (Claude, made
- [Universal child care](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/universal-child-care/): universal child care Universal child care means early learning and child care that is affordable, equitable, and inclusive for all families, with options to meet their varied needs. A main goal: universal child care, accessible to all The federal government’s
- [ELCC tables preview](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/elcc-tables-preview/): Canada-wide progress on ELCC Summary of progress by province/territory Progress by province and territory: Details and notes
- [Update the progress tables](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/update-progress-tables/)
- [What is the $10 a day plan?](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/): what is the $10 a day plan? "$10 a day child care" has become the familiar catchphrase for Canada’s first Canada-wide child care policy, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care plan (CWELCC). But what is $10 a day child
- [Tracking ELCC system progress](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/tracking-elcc-system-progress/): tracking progress Benchmarks As the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan has moved into implementation, this section tracks progress using key early learning and child care (ELCC) system benchmarks. It will be updated as implementation progresses.
- [Contact us](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us/): Have a question for us? Ask away. Comments? We look forward to hearing from you.
- [10 critical components](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/ten-critical-components/): 10 critical components A roadmap for ELCC system building Based on Child Care Now’s Canada-wide Roadmap to Affordable Child Care for All, these 10 components are critical for early learning and child care (ELCC) system building. The critical components and
- [Roadmaps](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/roadmaps/): roadmaps Community roadmaps The Canada-wide child care community has developed a series of early learning and child care roadmaps, several before the announcement of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan in 2021, while others followed
- [Quality](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/quality/): quality Quality should be at the core Quality – one of the principles of the $10 a day plan affirmed and specified in the federal legislation – should be at the core of all early learning and child care (ELCC)
- [Quebec’s ELCC](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/elcc-in-quebec/): Quebec’s ELCC Quebec exceptionalism Quebec has been building its own publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) system since the late 1990s, even before the current asymmetrical ELCC policy arrangements were established with the Government of Canada. Quebec child
- [First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/first-nations-metis-and-inuit-early-learning-and-child-care/): First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC Truth and Reconciliation  In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified early learning and child care (ELCC) for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people as part of redressing historic wrongs, as had the
- [A coherent system](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/): a coherent system Coherence is important The importance of coherence in early learning and child care (ELCC) policy and provision was first recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In their 2001 comparative report on early childhood
- [From a market to a system](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/from-a-market-to-a-system/): from a marketto a system From a patchwork market to a publicly funded system: how fifty years of advocacy, the $10 a day plan, and Canada’s first federal child care legislation laid the foundations, and what comes next in Phase
- [About this resource](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/about-this-resource/): About this resource As incremental changes shaping the future of ELCC in Canada are underway, this resource can inform and empower collective system-building. Its curated materials are organized to contribute to community knowledge at all levels. Use it as a
- [Building Canada’s Child Care System](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/): Building Canada's Child Care System Universal child care through the $10 a day plan This website is designed to explore the parts of Canada's $10 a day early learning and child care plan and the implementation of an affordable, equitable,
- [Accessibility statement](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/accessibility-statement/): Accessibility statement The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) wants everyone to be able to use Building Canada’s Child Care System, including people who use screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice control, or a keyboard instead of a mouse. Our standard

## Blog Posts

- [Democratic participation](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/democratic-participation/) (2024-11-14): Democratic participation Democratic participation should inform and support the implementation and ongoing operation of a high quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system – from parent advisory groups to child care sector engagement to citizen engagement processes at all
- [Public accountability](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-accountability/) (2024-11-14): Public accountability Governments must develop and publish annual and multi-year early learning and child care (ELCC) plans, and report publicly on progress. The plans must be updated based on lessons learned and evolving ELCC needs and context. Effective public accountability is
- [Data and research](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/data-and-research/) (2024-11-14): Data and research Building a quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system is a long-term project requiring monitoring, continuous quality improvement, and system corrections based on experience, evidence, and evaluation. A comprehensive data and research strategy is a necessary
- [Workforce strategies](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/workforce-strategies/) (2024-11-14): Workforce strategies A well-qualified workforce is central to a high quality child care system and necessary for the expansion needed. Without it, services will not be high quality and expansion will be hampered. The early childhood education profession has been
- [Public and non-profit provision](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-and-non-profit-provision/) (2024-11-14): Public and non-profit provision To protect the transformed child care system and public resources, expansion of publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) must be limited to public and non-profit services. Expanding for-profit ELCC provision is a risky business
- [Expansion strategies](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/expansion-strategies/) (2024-11-14): Expansion strategies Each province’s/territory’s action plans must include a commitment to developing a comprehensive expansion plan. Expansion strategies must be publicly led and concrete  The development of new early learning and child care (ELCC) programs has largely been a private
- [Publicly led and funded expansion](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/publicly-led-and-funded-expansion/) (2024-11-14): Publicly led and funded expansion Publicly led and funded expansion is needed to close the gap between service supply and parental demand that has created service shortages and inequitable access. Sufficient capital funding to support the costs of expanded public
- [Public funding with conditions](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-funding-with-conditions/) (2024-11-14): Public funding must come with conditions All child care operators who are part of the new publicly funded child care system must accept the need for public accountability through conditions designed to ensure the best evidence-based and publicly accountable uses
- [Sufficient operational funding](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/sufficient-operational-funding/) (2024-11-14): Sufficient public cost-based funding of ELCC operational budgets Funding for child care programs must be determined by funding formulas based on the program's full operating costs. These cost-based funding formulas will be designed by each province/territory. The patchwork approach falls
- [Public management](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-management/) (2024-11-14): Public management Transforming child care to a well-functioning system must include a shift to public responsibility for leading, planning, managing, expanding, and maintaining regulated child care. This requires shifting responsibilities from private groups or individuals to provincial/territorial governments or other


---

# Full Content

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last_modified: "2026-10-19T16:23:16+00:00"
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# Accessibility statement

# Accessibility statement

The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) wants everyone to be able to use _Building Canada’s Child Care System_, including people who use screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice control, or a keyboard instead of a mouse.

## Our standard

We aim to meet the [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/) at Level AA. WCAG is the international standard for accessible websites, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

## What we have done

- Pages use real text headings in a logical order, so you can move through a page by its headings.

- Images that carry meaning have text descriptions (alt text). Decorative images are hidden from screen readers.

- Text and background colours have been checked for contrast.

- Links that open in a new window are marked with an icon, and screen readers announce that they open a new window.

- The layout adapts to phones, tablets, and enlarged text.

- We check pages with an accessibility testing tool and by hand.

## Known limitations

- Many of the resources we link to are on other websites, including document pages on childcarecanada.org and reports from governments and other organizations. We cannot guarantee that those sites and documents are accessible.

- Some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible. If you need a document in another format, please contact us.

- We are continuing to review the provincial and territorial progress tables to make them easier to use with screen readers.

## Tell us about a problem

If you have trouble using any part of this website, or need information in another format, please let us know. We welcome your feedback.

- Use our [contact form](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us/)

- Call us at [416-926-9264](tel:+14169269264) (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern time)

We will do our best to respond promptly and to provide the information you need.

## About this statement

This statement was last reviewed in October 2026.

---

---
title: "Universal child care"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/universal-child-care/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "universal child care Universal child care means early learning and child care that is affordable, equitable, and inclusive for all families, with options to meet their varied needs. A main goal: universal child care, accessible to all The federal government’s"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T22:08:02+00:00"
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# Universal child care

# universal
child care

![Smiling young girl in a pink outfit, leaning forward with her hands on her knees.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/KM_50.-transbkgrndwebp.webp)

Universal child care means early learning and child care that is affordable, equitable, and inclusive for all families, with options to meet their varied needs.

## A main goal: universal child care, accessible to all

The federal government’s [stated overarching goal](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html) for CWELCC was “to ensure that all families have access to high-quality, affordable, and flexible early learning and child care no matter where they live.” This is consistent with research and experience, which confirm that a universal approach to child care delivers the best results for children, families and society. In an influential [thematic review of ELCC](https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/oecd-thematic-review-early-childhood-education-and-care) in 20 countries, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that most OECD countries were moving toward universal access as long ago as 2001.

## **What does “universal” mean when it comes to early learning and child care? **

The term “universal” is understood to mean that ELCC is affordable (or no fee) for all children, which means it is primarily funded through public revenues.

Universal child care programs are equitable and sufficiently available, including for communities that are currently underserved, such as rural, lower income, and newcomer communities. It must be appropriate to meet both parents’ needs (such as non-standard work hours) and children’s characteristics (such as age). A child care system “for all” also incorporates full inclusion of children with disabilities or special needs.

Universal child care does not mean “one size fits all,” but that there is sufficient diversity of options to meet the varied needs and preferences of families. This means that universal child care systems include full- or part-day centres, family child care, and before- and after-school care, offered for standard and non-standard hours. Universal child care is well aligned with paid parental leave and other family-supporting policies.

Public information must be easily accessible so parents know what is available. The child care system must be structured in a straightforward way, without undue complexity of eligibility or use; these are shown to create barriers for parents, especially those who are vulnerable.

## Distinct populations

Canadian history and political considerations identify specific groups whose ELCC policy and provision are recognized as warranting self-governance outside the universal system serving the rest of Canada: [First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/first-nations-metis-and-inuit-early-learning-and-child-care/), and [the province of Quebec](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/elcc-in-quebec/).

---

---
title: "ELCC tables preview"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/elcc-tables-preview/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "Canada-wide progress on ELCC Summary of progress by province/territory Progress by province and territory: Details and notes"
last_modified: "2026-08-28T21:56:21+00:00"
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# ELCC tables preview

## Canada-wide progress on ELCC

Legend
- ![](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/elcc-yes-96.png)**Yes** In place
- ![](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/elcc-partial-96.png)**Partial / In progress** Under way or partial
- **No** Not in place

| Benchmark | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Has sufficient federal funding been allocated to accomplish CWELCC’s stated goals? |  | The federal government committed approximately $30 billion over 5 years to support the first phase of CWELCC’s implementation (April 2021 - March 2026). In early 2025, all provinces and territories except Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta extended their agreements with the federal government, ensuring continued funding. Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta subsequently reached agreements later in the year. The November 2025 federal budget continued the pre-2026 funding levels plus a 3% escalator to offset inflation but did not contain additional operational or capital funding to continue to grow and strengthen the program. In June 2026, the federal government added an additional $5.4 billion over the next two years to support CWELCC. |
| Is federal child care legislation in place? |  | Bill C-35, An Act Respecting Early Learning and Child Care was unanimously approved by the House of Commons in the spring of 2023. It received Royal Assent on March 19, 2024, making it Canada’s first federal child care legislation to become law. |
| Is a Canada-wide ELCC workforce strategy in place? |  | A federal/provincial/territorial ministers’ meeting was convened in July 2023 to “advance shared priorities in early learning and child care,” including development of a workforce strategy. Shared work on a strategy continued, but despite some varying progress on workforce issues made by provinces/territories, a Canada-wide ELCC workforce strategy is not in place. |
| Is ELCC expansion primarily public/non-profit Canada-wide? |  | The first phase (2021 - 2025) provincial/territorial agreements and action plans indicated that all provinces agreed to this federal commitment – some exclusively and some “primarily.” However, the data as of 2025 show that although the percentage of child care operated for-profit Canada-wide increased only marginally overall, in 7 jurisdictions at least 40% of net growth in full-day centre spaces was in the for-profit sector. |
| Is ELCC capital funding in place? |  | Beginning in 2022, the federal government provided $625 million to provinces and territories over four years through the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, which is due to expire March 31, 2027. In 2024, the government announced a Child Care Expansion Loan Program with $1 billion in low-cost loans and $60 million in non-repayable grants, but this was not implemented. Provinces/territories may choose to use the general CWELCC funds for capital as well as allocating their own funds. |
| Is a Canada-wide data and research strategy in place? |  | A data and research strategy has not been put in place. Several new Statistics Canada surveys are providing useful Canada-wide data. In the absence of a data and research strategy, community and academic researchers are studying many ELCC-related topics on their own initiative. |
| Are resources and plans to support Indigenous peoples to develop their own distinctions-based ELCC systems in place? |  | The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) framework, which includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit frameworks, was established in 2018. These frameworks – together with the federal Indigenous ELCC Secretariat, federal financing from several sources, and provincial/territorial commitments – support ongoing development of Indigenous ELCC Canada-wide. An assessment of what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be, is not available. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

## Summary of progress by province/territory

| Benchmark | Newfoundland and LabradorNL | Prince Edward IslandPE | Nova ScotiaNS | New BrunswickNB | QuebecQC | OntarioON | ManitobaMB | SaskatchewanSK | AlbertaAB | British ColumbiaBC | YukonYT | Northwest TerritoriesNT | NunavutNU |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Has a new, extended, or amended agreement covering the 2026 – 2031 period been publicly released? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction moved to a system of set parent fees for services participating in CWELCC? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Have the jurisdiction’s parent fees been reduced to an average of $10 a day? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction put in place capital funding aimed at the expansion of public and non-profit child care? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction shifted to a cost-based operational funding model for services? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has a wage grid been put in place? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction adopted measures to improve staff benefits and/or working conditions? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction disallowed services charging additional fees beyond published parent fees? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Last updated: October 9, 2026

## Progress by province and territory: Details and notes

### Has a new, extended, or amended agreement covering the 2026 – 2031 period been publicly released?

By March 2025, all provinces and territories except Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario [signed new five year agreements](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/25/03/trudeau-announces-37b-child-care-deals-11-provinces-and-territories) with the federal government, set to begin April 1 2026. By late December 2025, Saskatchewan had signed a new agreement for 2026 - 2031 as well, and [Ontario ](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/26/07/ontario-secures-1-year-child-care-extension-keep-average-fees-19day)and [Alberta](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/26/01/alberta-signs-extension-child-care-deal-ottawa-only-year) extended their agreements by one year, from April 1 2026 to March 31 2027. In September 2026, Ontario [extended their agreement](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/affordable-child-care-program-extended-ontario-not-10-day) until 2031. Only Saskatchewan has released their new agreement publicly.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | NL Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | PE Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | NS Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | NB Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| QuebecQC |  | QC Agreement, which covers 2026 - 2031, continues the asymmetrical approach of previous Quebec agreements. |
| OntarioON |  | ON Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| ManitobaMB |  | MB Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | SK Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| AlbertaAB |  | AB Agreement covers April 1 2026 - March 31 2027 (one year). |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | BC Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| YukonYT |  | YT Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | NT Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| NunavutNU |  | NU Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |

Last updated: October 9, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction moved to a system of set parent fees for services participating in CWELCC?

Moving to provincially/territorially set parent fees rather than allowing the market to set them is fundamental to transforming ELCC to a universal system. Set/capped fees for children aged 0 – 5 years are now used for most child care in seven jurisdictions.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador sets fees in licensed child care programs participating in the Operating Grant program. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Set fees have been used at Early Years Centres since 2010, when they varied by age group. Now, a single fee across age groups applies to all centres and licensed family child care. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | The provincial government does not set parent fees in Nova Scotia; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | Set fees vary by region, as well as by child’s age. |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec has set fees since 1997. They apply to all operationally funded child care: non-profit centres de la petite enfance (CPEs), some for-profit centres (“day care”, or garderies), and recognized (licensed) family child care. The large non-operationally funded for-profit sector charges market-based fees. |
| OntarioON |  | Beginning January 1, 2025, Ontario moved to set fees for all children under age six, including for those in BASC programs. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba has used set fees since at least the mid-1980s when they were first regulated, although at that time, parent fees accounted for a relatively larger portion of a centre’s budget. Manitoba has since moved to one fee across age groups, and extended set fees to family child care providers in 2025. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  |  |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta introduced set fees for 0 - 5 year olds on April 1, 2025. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia uses set fees at $10 a Day ChildCareBC services, which are a minority of licensed spaces for 0 - 5 year olds. The majority of licensed spaces use market-based fees, with operators setting their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| YukonYT |  | The territorial government does not set parent fees in the Yukon; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The territorial government does not set parent fees In the Northwest Territories; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| NunavutNU |  |  |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Have the jurisdiction’s parent fees been reduced to an average of $10 a day?

Canada-wide, fee reduction was [implemented in two stages](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/25/07/price-not-right-yet-10-day-child-care-falling-short-target). All jurisdictions except Quebec agreed to reduce parent fees by an average of 50% by December 2022. All met or came close to meeting this goal. By April 2026, fees in six provinces/territories were at the second target – fees of $10 a day for 0 - 5 year olds.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  |  |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  |  |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | As of December 2025, average full-day child care fees for 0 – 5 year olds ranged from $16.75 – $19 per day. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick’s provincially-set full-day child care fees vary by age of child and size of community, ranging from $16 – $21 per day.. |
| QuebecQC |  | The provincially set fee, which was initially $5/day in 1997, is now annually indexed to inflation. In 2026 the daily fee is $9.65. |
| OntarioON |  | In January 2026, the daily average child care fee was $19. The maximum set fee is $22/a day. |
| ManitobaMB |  |  |
| SaskatchewanSK |  |  |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta’s set fee is roughly $15 per day. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | A minority of licensed child care services are funded to charge set $10 a day fees. Average fees at other CWELCC-participating child care programs, which receive less public funding, vary significantly across municipalities. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon had significantly reduced its average fees before CWELCC was announced. Parent fees are an average of $4 to $12.30/ day for full-day child care, depending on the age of the child, the type of care, and the region. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Parent fees for the Northwest Territories are not available. Fees are reported to range between $2.40 - $61.84/day. Market fees are reduced by a set amount paid by the territorial government. |
| NunavutNU |  |  |

Last updated: October 6, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction put in place capital funding aimed at the expansion of public and non-profit child care?

Capital funding is a key strategic element for ensuring public/non-profit child care growth. Almost all jurisdictions have some kind of capital funding plan for centres and regulated family child care, some of which are available for both non-profit and for-profit growth. The capital funding plans are highly variable among the provinces and territories in terms of how they operate and how much, or what proportion of costs, they cover.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador’s Capacity Grant funding is available to eligible not-for-profits, including community-based organizations, municipalities, cooperatives, and employer-sponsored and family child care provision. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island provides funding through a Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program for both non-profits and for-profits, a Non-Profit Organization Child Care Start-Up Grant, and Family Home Centre Capital Grants. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia’s capital funding grants, currently only available to non-profit programs, include Child Care Space Expansion, Minor Infrastructure Funding, Major Infrastructure Funding, and the Family Home Start Up Program. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick has three capital funding grants: Designation Start-Up Funding – New Licence ELCC Coordination Grant, New Space Creation Implementation Grant, and Expansion for Infants Spaces Grant – Renovations. They are provided to for-profit and non-profit operators, with non-profits prioritized. |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec’s Infrastructure Funding Program and Infrastructure Investment Grants are available only to non-profit Centres de la petit enfance. A start-up grant is available to recognized (licensed) family child care providers. |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario’s capital funding includes Start-Up Grants for for-profit and non-profit centres and home child care agencies, and the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund (implemented in 2025) for non-profit child care centres. The 47 municipal-level Social Service Managers have some flexibility in determining eligibility. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba’s capital grants - Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Building Fund, Child Care Renovation Expansion Grant, Municipalities and Indigenous Governing Bodies Child Care Initiative, School-Based Child Care Centre Expansion Project and home child care start-up grant - are all available to non-profit services only. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan’s Space Development Capital Funding, Centre Start-Up Grant and Family Child Care Home Start-Up Grants are all available only to non-profit services. Until 2026, Saskatchewan provided no funding at all to for-profit child care, but its new agreement changes this to allow some public dollars for for-profit centres. It is not clear whether this applies to capital funding. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta’s Space Creation Grant was open to both non-profit and for-profit centres. The grant ended in November 2024, but applications submitted before then continue to be processed as funding allows. It was replaced by the Building Blocks Capital Grant Program, which is available to non-profit and public services only. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia’s Major and Minor Capital Funding Grants had been available to non-profit and public organizations only, through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. This fund was paused as of February 2026. Start-Up Grants are available for new family home child care providers. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon provides start-up funding and enhancement funding for health and safety requirements to non-profit and for-profit centres and Family Day Homes. The Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund is open only to non-profits, Family Day Homes, First Nations governments, and registered Yukon societies. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories has an Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund, and New Child Care Spaces Funds for Centre-based Programs (available only to non-profits; there is no for-profit child care in the Northwest Territories), and Family Day Homes. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut’s Infrastructure Funding Program prioritizes communities with little or no licensed child care, and is available only to non-profits. There is no for-profit child care in Nunavut. |

Last updated: October 6, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction shifted to a cost-based operational funding model for services?

A “[cost-based operational funding model](https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/Child%20Care/2025/EN/Chapters/Chapter%202.2_EN.pdf)” means that public funding covers a service’s true costs represented in the operating budget for high quality child care ([including all staff compensation, facility, meals, and program costs](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/ontario%E2%80%99s-new-child-care-funding-formula-step-forward-more-needed)) rather than operators relying on a patchwork of parent fee replacement, grants, payments, parent fee subsidies, and fundraising pieced together by each service provider. A well-designed, full cost-based funding formula requires [good data as input](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/hallelujah-ontario-finally-has-new-funding-formula) to determine the “true costs” of delivering quality child care.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador’s Operating Grant Program (OGP) covers most of the costs of eligible child care services, but it is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | See this Prince Edward Island case study report for a description of the cost-based operational funding model for Early Years Centres. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula.  |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec has used a cost-based funding formula to provide operational funding to CPEs and to grandparented for-profit garderies for many years. |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario’s new cost-based funding formula was implemented in January 2025, but providers may still also rely on other funding and parent fees to fully cover costs. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba uses a “unit funding model” to calculate annual operating grants. It is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta covers “reasonable costs” of operating eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia does not currently use a cost-based funding formula for the majority of its child care provision. |
| YukonYT |  | The Early Learning and Child Care Funding Program provides operating funding to offset costs, but it is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories does not currently use a cost-based funding formula. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut does not currently use a cost-based funding formula. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has a wage grid been put in place?

A well-designed wage grid based on decent wages is a fundamental component of an effective workforce strategy for improving the recruitment and retention of qualified educators and building a professional early childhood education workforce. A wage grid is defined here as a stepped scale outlining progressive salary levels based on factors including position, credentials, and experience/length of employment.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador wage grid (centres) |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island has required Early Years Centres to use a provincial wage grid since 2010. (centres) |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia wage grid (centres) |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick Wage grid (centres and family child care) |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec’s wage grid has been in place for funded CPEs and garderies since 2006. (centres and family child care agency staff) |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario has not committed to a wage grid. Ontario has a wage floor. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba introduced the Early Learning and Child Care Wage Grid, a voluntary salary guide with minimum starting and target wages in 2022 (centres and family child care providers). The Manitoba Child Care Association has been developing salary scales for the province’s ELCC sector since 2007. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan does not have a wage grid. They committed to one in their initial and extended agreements. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta has not committed to a wage grid. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia continues to test a wage grid pilot project. See this 2025 analysis and update. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon has committed to implementing a mandatory wage grid, moving from a wage floor. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Northwest Territories wage grid (centres) |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut wage scale (wage grid) (centres) |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction adopted measures to improve staff benefits and/or working conditions?

In addition to decent wages, training, and professional development opportunities, solving the early learning and child care workforce crisis requires improving staff benefits such as pensions, extended health care, group benefits, and paid sick leave, as well as addressing working condition issues such as paid preparation time and provision of support or additional staff. Note that issues of staff wages, professional development, credentials, and training are not addressed in this benchmark. 

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | In 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador introduced a group medical benefits program for educators. In March 2026, the government announced the creation of an Early Childhood Educator Steering Committee to make recommendations related to benefits, wages, recruitment, and working conditions. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island announced a defined contribution pension plan in 2023. The province has also funded Pedagogical Support positions (i.e. float staff) to support educators on various tasks, such as paid preparatory time. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia introduced a defined benefit pension plan and a group benefits plan in 2024, as well as a grant for family child care providers to contribute to health and dental benefits and an RRSP. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick has not introduced benefits or working condition initiatives as part of educator recruitment. |
| QuebecQC |  | In Quebec, benefits are part of employee compensation in funded ELCC services, including defined benefits, group insurance, vacation, and statutory holidays. |
| OntarioON |  | There are no province-wide benefits, such as pensionor medical benefits, for Ontario child care staff. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba began offering funding for a registered pension plan and other retirement supports to child care educators in 2010. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan provides one-time grants of $145 per space to help non-profit centre boards and group family child care providers implement “workforce enhancements” which may include benefits such as pension plan contributions. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta has not introduced benefits or working condition initiatives for educators. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | There are no province-wide benefits or working condition initiatives for BC child care staff. The province is testing a compensation package including benefits and paid time off for vacation, illness, and attendance at professional development activities. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon introduced funding for an ELCC benefits package as part of territorial funding to programs in 2022. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories has proposed regulatory changes that include bonuses for Indigenous educators and staff with northern experience, and funding for additional staff beyond legal ratio requirements. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut is developing new ELCC legislation that encompasses Inuit culture and languages and aims to foster inclusive, Inuit-centred programs. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction disallowed services charging additional fees beyond published parent fees?

Provincial and territorial governments now regulate parent fees, with most using set or capped fees. In some jurisdictions, operators may charge additional fees for specified program elements, such as meals, waitlists, extended hours, or field trips.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Additional fees (including wait list fees, field trips, food, extended hours) are prohibited, with some exceptions for administration/registration fees, transportation fees, late fees, and under certain (limited) circumstances, meals and snacks. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Designated Early Years Centres must provide meals for no additional fee. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for transportation, field trips, and extended hours beyond 10 hours per day. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | As of 2024-2025, waitlist and registration fees are prohibited. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | No additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including additional fees for food, transportation, extended hours, field trips, and waitlisting. |
| QuebecQC |  | Operators are permitted to charge for food and extended hours beyond 10 consecutive hours; maximum amounts are set for these fees. There are explicit prohibitions on all other fees, including waitlisting, transportation, field trips, and activities. |
| OntarioON |  | Additional fees for food, waitlisting, and anything required by regulation are prohibited. Operators are permitted to charge additional fees (“non-base fees”), including for transportation and field trips. Operators must state base and non-base fees in their parent handbook. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Permitted additional fees include administration/registration fees, late payment and late pick-up, transportation fees, and wait list fees. Prohibited fees include mandatory “donations,” activity consumables, and fees in lieu of volunteering/fundraising. Manitoba’s set fees are geared to number of hours. New or increased fees must be board-approved, communicated in writing with advance notice, and reported in facility budget and financial audit. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Permitted fees include: specialty programming, transportation, excursions, diapers/sunscreen/bug spray, enhanced nutrition options, before and after school programs, extended hours beyond 10-hour standard day (with specified caps), registration/enrolment, late pick-up, and late payment fees. Prohibited additional fees include: waitlisting, inclusion supports, mandatory donations, and “core” child care services. Fees must be disclosed in parent handbooks and documented with receipts. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Operators are permitted to charge additional fees for “optional services” including meals/snacks, transportation, field trips, cultural/enrichment activities, extended hours, diapers, sunscreen, one-time waitlisting, registration fees, and extracurricular activities. Beyond basic program operation, additional fees are not explicitly prohibited. Operators are required to report additional fees to the province twice yearly. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | Waitlist fees are prohibited. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours beyond 9.5 hours per day. |
| YukonYT |  | No additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including meals fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Operators are prohibited from charging any additional fees beyond the regulated fee, but waitlist fees are not prohibited. The Northwest Territories uses a voluntary donation model, wherein operators may accept donations for food, transportation, extended hours, field trips, and other services and programs. |
| NunavutNU |  | Operators are prohibited from charging any additional fees beyond the regulated fee, except for late pick-up penalty fees. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

---

---
title: "Update the progress tables"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/update-progress-tables/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
last_modified: "2026-09-01T01:53:38+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 14
---

# Update the progress tables

## Please sign in

This page is for CRRU researchers updating the ELCC progress tables.

[Sign in](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.buildingchildcare.ca%2Fdemocratic-participation%2F)

---

---
title: "What is the $10 a day plan?"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "what is the $10 a day plan? \"$10 a day child care\" has become the familiar catchphrase for Canada’s first Canada-wide child care policy, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care plan (CWELCC). But what is $10 a day child"
last_modified: "2026-10-29T19:57:05+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 1227
---

# What is the $10 a day plan?

# what is the
$10 a day plan?

![Young child sitting on the floor, playing with colourful blocks.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/asian-kid-with-blocks-300x300.png)

“$10 a day child care” has become the familiar catchphrase for Canada’s first Canada-wide child care policy, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care_ _plan (CWELCC). But what _is_ $10 a day child care?

## The $10 a day child care plan is more than affordable parent fees

To many people, it means the highly visible [reduction to $10 a day parent fees](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/25/07/price-not-right-yet-10-day-child-care-falling-short-target) now in place in much of Canada. But the phrase is merely shorthand for a much more expansive long-term plan made up of [interlinked parts](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/). Affordable parent fees are but one piece of this plan – although a critically important piece.

## What are the goals of the $10 a day child care plan?

The federal government’s overarching goal is “to ensure that all families have access to high-quality, affordable, and inclusive early learning and child care no matter where they live.” It is “a plan to drive economic growth, secure women’s place in the workforce, and give every Canadian child the same head start.” [The government’s goals](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html) are consistent with those for which [Canada’s child care movement has advocated for over 50 years](https://activehistory.ca/blog/2021/05/18/childcare2021/).

## Partnerships

The $10 a day child care plan operates through federal, provincial, and territorial partnerships based on agreed-upon high-level principles. These partnerships are formalized through [bilateral agreements](https://www.canada.ca/en/early-learning-child-care-agreement/agreements-provinces-territories.html) that enable federal funding transfers to each province and territory. Federal, provincial, and territorial money now funds the bulk of licensed child care costs.

The federal government has [strengthened its commitment](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/from-a-market-to-a-system) to the plan:

- Initially committing about $30 billion to launch the $10 a day plan in 2021

- Passing Canada’s first federal child care legislation in 2024

- Adding capital funding to the original 2021 funding package

- Extending the bilateral agreements and previous funding until 2031

- Adding an additional $5.4 billion to cover two years (2027 – 2029)

## What’s included in the $10 a day plan?

The terms of the federal plan allow provinces/territories to include all licensed child care for 0–6 year olds: full-day child care centres, family child care, part-day preschools/nursery schools, and before- and after-school child care for children up to age six. There are some variations in how provinces and territories include these program types. The plan includes only provincially or territorially licensed programs.

## Making systemic change

The first five years of the $10 a day plan have “focused on building the right foundations for a truly Canada-wide system of child care.” The foundation was to have included [Critical components](/ten-critical-components/) and elements identified by the federal government as:

- Significant reduction of fees for $10 a day for 0 – 5 year olds by 2026. As a result, child care service providers have been able to shift from mainly relying on parent fees to being largely publicly funded.

- Ongoing growth in high quality affordable child care by expanding (primarily) public and non-profit provision, addressing inequitable distribution of licensed child care by region, income, ethnicity/race, and other factors.

- Ensuring that families in all existing child care can benefit from fee reduction by publicly funding existing licensed non-profit, public, and for-profit spaces.

- Protecting the emerging child care system by expanding (primarily) public and non-profit provision.

- Ensuring inclusion and respecting diversity of all families and children in an equitable system.

- Valuing early childhood educators’ work to ensure they are at the heart of the system, addressing the low wages and poor working conditions that have always affected the 95% female child care workforce.

- Making meaningful progress improving and expanding before- and after-school child care.

- Building a strong baseline of common, publicly available data to ensure accountability, measure progress, report to Canadians, and improve the system.

- Addressing the needs of Indigenous families and communities as a critical part of Reconciliation.

[![Diagram of a coherent system as a three-legged stool. The seat is high quality child care for all; the legs are workforce, affordability, and access. It stands on sufficient public funding, research and data, democratic engagement, ongoing quality improvement, and public accountability.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3-legged-stool-From-content-doc.jpg) ](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/)

## The whole of the $10 a day plan is greater than the sum of the parts

Experience in multiple countries and international research on child care systems shows that [a coherent, integrated policy package of interlinked elements](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/) is much more effective than piecemeal approaches, as the three-legged stool graphic shows.

The [$10 a day plan elements](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/ten-critical-components/) are elaborated in a [10-point roadmap to a quality system](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/roadmaps/) developed by child care advocates.

---

---
title: "Tracking ELCC system progress"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/tracking-elcc-system-progress/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "tracking progress Benchmarks As the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan has moved into implementation, this section tracks progress using key early learning and child care (ELCC) system benchmarks. It will be updated as implementation progresses."
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:05:46+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 907
---

# Tracking ELCC system progress

# tracking progress

![Smiling baby sitting on the floor with both hands raised.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/black-baby-552x600.png)

## Benchmarks

As the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan has moved into implementation, this section tracks progress using key early learning and child care (ELCC) system benchmarks. It will be updated as implementation progresses. Where available, explanatory resources are linked in the tables. CRRU has aimed to ensure the accuracy of these tables to the best of our ability using publicly available information. To suggest corrections, please [contact us](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us).

| Yes | No | Partial / Inprogress |
| --- | --- | --- |

## Information on new developments

Beyond these benchmarks, large and small developments are occurring regularly at all levels of government.

For information on new developments, the [Child care in the news](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news) category of CRRU’s keyword searchable Online Document Catalogue may be useful.

Child care in the news

[Subscribe to the CRRU’s weekly email newsletter](https://childcarecanada.org/weekly-newsletter)

## Canada-wide progress on ELCC

| Benchmark | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Has sufficient federal funding been allocated to accomplish CWELCC’s stated goals? |  | The federal government committed approximately $30 billion over 5 years to support the first phase of CWELCC’s implementation (April 2021 - March 2026). In early 2025, all provinces and territories except Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta extended their agreements with the federal government, ensuring continued funding. Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta subsequently reached agreements later in the year. The November 2025 federal budget continued the pre-2026 funding levels plus a 3% escalator to offset inflation but did not contain additional operational or capital funding to continue to grow and strengthen the program. In June 2026, the federal government added an additional $5.4 billion over the next two years to support CWELCC. |
| Is federal child care legislation in place? |  | Bill C-35, An Act Respecting Early Learning and Child Care was unanimously approved by the House of Commons in the spring of 2023. It received Royal Assent on March 19, 2024, making it Canada’s first federal child care legislation to become law. |
| Is a Canada-wide ELCC workforce strategy in place? |  | A federal/provincial/territorial ministers’ meeting was convened in July 2023 to “advance shared priorities in early learning and child care,” including development of a workforce strategy. Shared work on a strategy continued, but despite some varying progress on workforce issues made by provinces/territories, a Canada-wide ELCC workforce strategy is not in place. |
| Is ELCC expansion primarily public/non-profit Canada-wide? |  | The first phase (2021 - 2025) provincial/territorial agreements and action plans indicated that all provinces agreed to this federal commitment – some exclusively and some “primarily.” However, the data as of 2025 show that although the percentage of child care operated for-profit Canada-wide increased only marginally overall, in 7 jurisdictions at least 40% of net growth in full-day centre spaces was in the for-profit sector. |
| Is ELCC capital funding in place? |  | Beginning in 2022, the federal government provided $625 million to provinces and territories over four years through the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, which is due to expire March 31, 2027. In 2024, the government announced a Child Care Expansion Loan Program with $1 billion in low-cost loans and $60 million in non-repayable grants, but this was not implemented. Provinces/territories may choose to use the general CWELCC funds for capital as well as allocating their own funds. |
| Is a Canada-wide data and research strategy in place? |  | A data and research strategy has not been put in place. Several new Statistics Canada surveys are providing useful Canada-wide data. In the absence of a data and research strategy, community and academic researchers are studying many ELCC-related topics on their own initiative. |
| Are resources and plans to support Indigenous peoples to develop their own distinctions-based ELCC systems in place? |  | The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) framework, which includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit frameworks, was established in 2018. These frameworks – together with the federal Indigenous ELCC Secretariat, federal financing from several sources, and provincial/territorial commitments – support ongoing development of Indigenous ELCC Canada-wide. An assessment of what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be, is not available. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

## Summary of progress by province/territory

Specific provincial/territorial details are available in the [Details and notes](#ptdetails) section below.

| Benchmark | Newfoundland and LabradorNL | Prince Edward IslandPE | Nova ScotiaNS | New BrunswickNB | QuebecQC | OntarioON | ManitobaMB | SaskatchewanSK | AlbertaAB | British ColumbiaBC | YukonYT | Northwest TerritoriesNT | NunavutNU |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Has a new, extended, or amended agreement covering the 2026 – 2031 period been publicly released? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction moved to a system of set parent fees for services participating in CWELCC? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Have the jurisdiction’s parent fees been reduced to an average of $10 a day? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction put in place capital funding aimed at the expansion of public and non-profit child care? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction shifted to a cost-based operational funding model for services? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has a wage grid been put in place? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction adopted measures to improve staff benefits and/or working conditions? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Has the jurisdiction disallowed services charging additional fees beyond published parent fees? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Last updated: October 9, 2026

## Progress by province and territory:
Details and notes

### Has a new, extended, or amended agreement covering the 2026 – 2031 period been publicly released?

By March 2025, all provinces and territories except Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario [signed new five year agreements](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/25/03/trudeau-announces-37b-child-care-deals-11-provinces-and-territories) with the federal government, set to begin April 1 2026. By late December 2025, Saskatchewan had signed a new agreement for 2026 - 2031 as well, and [Ontario ](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/26/07/ontario-secures-1-year-child-care-extension-keep-average-fees-19day)and [Alberta](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/26/01/alberta-signs-extension-child-care-deal-ottawa-only-year) extended their agreements by one year, from April 1 2026 to March 31 2027. In September 2026, Ontario [extended their agreement](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/affordable-child-care-program-extended-ontario-not-10-day) until 2031. Only Saskatchewan has released their new agreement publicly.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | NL Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | PE Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | NS Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | NB Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| QuebecQC |  | QC Agreement, which covers 2026 - 2031, continues the asymmetrical approach of previous Quebec agreements. |
| OntarioON |  | ON Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| ManitobaMB |  | MB Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | SK Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| AlbertaAB |  | AB Agreement covers April 1 2026 - March 31 2027 (one year). |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | BC Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| YukonYT |  | YT Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | NT Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |
| NunavutNU |  | NU Agreement covers 2026 - 2031. |

Last updated: October 9, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction moved to a system of set parent fees for services participating in CWELCC?

Moving to provincially/territorially set parent fees rather than allowing the market to set them is fundamental to transforming ELCC to a universal system. Set/capped fees for children aged 0 – 5 years are now used for most child care in seven jurisdictions.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador sets fees in licensed child care programs participating in the Operating Grant program. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Set fees have been used at Early Years Centres since 2010, when they varied by age group. Now, a single fee across age groups applies to all centres and licensed family child care. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | The provincial government does not set parent fees in Nova Scotia; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | Set fees vary by region, as well as by child’s age. |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec has set fees since 1997. They apply to all operationally funded child care: non-profit centres de la petite enfance (CPEs), some for-profit centres (“day care”, or garderies), and recognized (licensed) family child care. The large non-operationally funded for-profit sector charges market-based fees. |
| OntarioON |  | Beginning January 1, 2025, Ontario moved to set fees for all children under age six, including for those in BASC programs. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba has used set fees since at least the mid-1980s when they were first regulated, although at that time, parent fees accounted for a relatively larger portion of a centre’s budget. Manitoba has since moved to one fee across age groups, and extended set fees to family child care providers in 2025. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  |  |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta introduced set fees for 0 - 5 year olds on April 1, 2025. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia uses set fees at $10 a Day ChildCareBC services, which are a minority of licensed spaces for 0 - 5 year olds. The majority of licensed spaces use market-based fees, with operators setting their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| YukonYT |  | The territorial government does not set parent fees in the Yukon; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The territorial government does not set parent fees In the Northwest Territories; operators set their own fees, with some government constraints. |
| NunavutNU |  |  |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Have the jurisdiction’s parent fees been reduced to an average of $10 a day?

Canada-wide, fee reduction was [implemented in two stages](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/25/07/price-not-right-yet-10-day-child-care-falling-short-target). All jurisdictions except Quebec agreed to reduce parent fees by an average of 50% by December 2022. All met or came close to meeting this goal. By April 2026, fees in six provinces/territories were at the second target – fees of $10 a day for 0 - 5 year olds.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  |  |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  |  |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | As of December 2025, average full-day child care fees for 0 – 5 year olds ranged from $16.75 – $19 per day. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick’s provincially-set full-day child care fees vary by age of child and size of community, ranging from $16 – $21 per day.. |
| QuebecQC |  | The provincially set fee, which was initially $5/day in 1997, is now annually indexed to inflation. In 2026 the daily fee is $9.65. |
| OntarioON |  | In January 2026, the daily average child care fee was $19. The maximum set fee is $22/a day. |
| ManitobaMB |  |  |
| SaskatchewanSK |  |  |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta’s set fee is roughly $15 per day. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | A minority of licensed child care services are funded to charge set $10 a day fees. Average fees at other CWELCC-participating child care programs, which receive less public funding, vary significantly across municipalities. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon had significantly reduced its average fees before CWELCC was announced. Parent fees are an average of $4 to $12.30/ day for full-day child care, depending on the age of the child, the type of care, and the region. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Parent fees for the Northwest Territories are not available. Fees are reported to range between $2.40 - $61.84/day. Market fees are reduced by a set amount paid by the territorial government. |
| NunavutNU |  |  |

Last updated: October 6, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction put in place capital funding aimed at the expansion of public and non-profit child care?

Capital funding is a key strategic element for ensuring public/non-profit child care growth. Almost all jurisdictions have some kind of capital funding plan for centres and regulated family child care, some of which are available for both non-profit and for-profit growth. The capital funding plans are highly variable among the provinces and territories in terms of how they operate and how much, or what proportion of costs, they cover.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador’s Capacity Grant funding is available to eligible not-for-profits, including community-based organizations, municipalities, cooperatives, and employer-sponsored and family child care provision. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island provides funding through a Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program for both non-profits and for-profits, a Non-Profit Organization Child Care Start-Up Grant, and Family Home Centre Capital Grants. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia’s capital funding grants, currently only available to non-profit programs, include Child Care Space Expansion, Minor Infrastructure Funding, Major Infrastructure Funding, and the Family Home Start Up Program. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick has three capital funding grants: Designation Start-Up Funding – New Licence ELCC Coordination Grant, New Space Creation Implementation Grant, and Expansion for Infants Spaces Grant – Renovations. They are provided to for-profit and non-profit operators, with non-profits prioritized. |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec’s Infrastructure Funding Program and Infrastructure Investment Grants are available only to non-profit Centres de la petit enfance. A start-up grant is available to recognized (licensed) family child care providers. |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario’s capital funding includes Start-Up Grants for for-profit and non-profit centres and home child care agencies, and the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund (implemented in 2025) for non-profit child care centres. The 47 municipal-level Social Service Managers have some flexibility in determining eligibility. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba’s capital grants - Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Building Fund, Child Care Renovation Expansion Grant, Municipalities and Indigenous Governing Bodies Child Care Initiative, School-Based Child Care Centre Expansion Project and home child care start-up grant - are all available to non-profit services only. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan’s Space Development Capital Funding, Centre Start-Up Grant and Family Child Care Home Start-Up Grants are all available only to non-profit services. Until 2026, Saskatchewan provided no funding at all to for-profit child care, but its new agreement changes this to allow some public dollars for for-profit centres. It is not clear whether this applies to capital funding. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta’s Space Creation Grant was open to both non-profit and for-profit centres. The grant ended in November 2024, but applications submitted before then continue to be processed as funding allows. It was replaced by the Building Blocks Capital Grant Program, which is available to non-profit and public services only. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia’s Major and Minor Capital Funding Grants had been available to non-profit and public organizations only, through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. This fund was paused as of February 2026. Start-Up Grants are available for new family home child care providers. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon provides start-up funding and enhancement funding for health and safety requirements to non-profit and for-profit centres and Family Day Homes. The Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund is open only to non-profits, Family Day Homes, First Nations governments, and registered Yukon societies. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories has an Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund, and New Child Care Spaces Funds for Centre-based Programs (available only to non-profits; there is no for-profit child care in the Northwest Territories), and Family Day Homes. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut’s Infrastructure Funding Program prioritizes communities with little or no licensed child care, and is available only to non-profits. There is no for-profit child care in Nunavut. |

Last updated: October 6, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction shifted to a cost-based operational funding model for services?

A “[cost-based operational funding model](https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/Child%20Care/2025/EN/Chapters/Chapter%202.2_EN.pdf)” means that public funding covers a service’s true costs represented in the operating budget for high quality child care ([including all staff compensation, facility, meals, and program costs](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/ontario%E2%80%99s-new-child-care-funding-formula-step-forward-more-needed)) rather than operators relying on a patchwork of parent fee replacement, grants, payments, parent fee subsidies, and fundraising pieced together by each service provider. A well-designed, full cost-based funding formula requires [good data as input](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/hallelujah-ontario-finally-has-new-funding-formula) to determine the “true costs” of delivering quality child care.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador’s Operating Grant Program (OGP) covers most of the costs of eligible child care services, but it is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | See this Prince Edward Island case study report for a description of the cost-based operational funding model for Early Years Centres. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula.  |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec has used a cost-based funding formula to provide operational funding to CPEs and to grandparented for-profit garderies for many years. |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario’s new cost-based funding formula was implemented in January 2025, but providers may still also rely on other funding and parent fees to fully cover costs. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba uses a “unit funding model” to calculate annual operating grants. It is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan covers most of the operating costs of eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta covers “reasonable costs” of operating eligible child care services, but does not use a cost-based funding formula. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia does not currently use a cost-based funding formula for the majority of its child care provision. |
| YukonYT |  | The Early Learning and Child Care Funding Program provides operating funding to offset costs, but it is not a cost-based funding formula. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories does not currently use a cost-based funding formula. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut does not currently use a cost-based funding formula. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has a wage grid been put in place?

A well-designed wage grid based on decent wages is a fundamental component of an effective workforce strategy for improving the recruitment and retention of qualified educators and building a professional early childhood education workforce. A wage grid is defined here as a stepped scale outlining progressive salary levels based on factors including position, credentials, and experience/length of employment.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Newfoundland and Labrador wage grid (centres) |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island has required Early Years Centres to use a provincial wage grid since 2010. (centres) |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia wage grid (centres) |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick Wage grid (centres and family child care) |
| QuebecQC |  | Quebec’s wage grid has been in place for funded CPEs and garderies since 2006. (centres and family child care agency staff) |
| OntarioON |  | Ontario has not committed to a wage grid. Ontario has a wage floor. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba introduced the Early Learning and Child Care Wage Grid, a voluntary salary guide with minimum starting and target wages in 2022 (centres and family child care providers). The Manitoba Child Care Association has been developing salary scales for the province’s ELCC sector since 2007. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan does not have a wage grid. They committed to one in their initial and extended agreements. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta has not committed to a wage grid. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | British Columbia continues to test a wage grid pilot project. See this 2025 analysis and update. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon has committed to implementing a mandatory wage grid, moving from a wage floor. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Northwest Territories wage grid (centres) |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut wage scale (wage grid) (centres) |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction adopted measures to improve staff benefits and/or working conditions?

In addition to decent wages, training, and professional development opportunities, solving the early learning and child care workforce crisis requires improving staff benefits such as pensions, extended health care, group benefits, and paid sick leave, as well as addressing working condition issues such as paid preparation time and provision of support or additional staff. Note that issues of staff wages, professional development, credentials, and training are not addressed in this benchmark. 

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | In 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador introduced a group medical benefits program for educators. In March 2026, the government announced the creation of an Early Childhood Educator Steering Committee to make recommendations related to benefits, wages, recruitment, and working conditions. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Prince Edward Island announced a defined contribution pension plan in 2023. The province has also funded Pedagogical Support positions (i.e. float staff) to support educators on various tasks, such as paid preparatory time. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | Nova Scotia introduced a defined benefit pension plan and a group benefits plan in 2024, as well as a grant for family child care providers to contribute to health and dental benefits and an RRSP. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | New Brunswick has not introduced benefits or working condition initiatives as part of educator recruitment. |
| QuebecQC |  | In Quebec, benefits are part of employee compensation in funded ELCC services, including defined benefits, group insurance, vacation, and statutory holidays. |
| OntarioON |  | There are no province-wide benefits, such as pensionor medical benefits, for Ontario child care staff. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Manitoba began offering funding for a registered pension plan and other retirement supports to child care educators in 2010. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Saskatchewan provides one-time grants of $145 per space to help non-profit centre boards and group family child care providers implement “workforce enhancements” which may include benefits such as pension plan contributions. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Alberta has not introduced benefits or working condition initiatives for educators. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | There are no province-wide benefits or working condition initiatives for BC child care staff. The province is testing a compensation package including benefits and paid time off for vacation, illness, and attendance at professional development activities. |
| YukonYT |  | The Yukon introduced funding for an ELCC benefits package as part of territorial funding to programs in 2022. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | The Northwest Territories has proposed regulatory changes that include bonuses for Indigenous educators and staff with northern experience, and funding for additional staff beyond legal ratio requirements. |
| NunavutNU |  | Nunavut is developing new ELCC legislation that encompasses Inuit culture and languages and aims to foster inclusive, Inuit-centred programs. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

### Has the jurisdiction disallowed services charging additional fees beyond published parent fees?

Provincial and territorial governments now regulate parent fees, with most using set or capped fees. In some jurisdictions, operators may charge additional fees for specified program elements, such as meals, waitlists, extended hours, or field trips.

| Province / territory | Status | Details and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL |  | Additional fees (including wait list fees, field trips, food, extended hours) are prohibited, with some exceptions for administration/registration fees, transportation fees, late fees, and under certain (limited) circumstances, meals and snacks. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE |  | Designated Early Years Centres must provide meals for no additional fee. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for transportation, field trips, and extended hours beyond 10 hours per day. |
| Nova ScotiaNS |  | As of 2024-2025, waitlist and registration fees are prohibited. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours. |
| New BrunswickNB |  | No additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including additional fees for food, transportation, extended hours, field trips, and waitlisting. |
| QuebecQC |  | Operators are permitted to charge for food and extended hours beyond 10 consecutive hours; maximum amounts are set for these fees. There are explicit prohibitions on all other fees, including waitlisting, transportation, field trips, and activities. |
| OntarioON |  | Additional fees for food, waitlisting, and anything required by regulation are prohibited. Operators are permitted to charge additional fees (“non-base fees”), including for transportation and field trips. Operators must state base and non-base fees in their parent handbook. |
| ManitobaMB |  | Permitted additional fees include administration/registration fees, late payment and late pick-up, transportation fees, and wait list fees. Prohibited fees include mandatory “donations,” activity consumables, and fees in lieu of volunteering/fundraising. Manitoba’s set fees are geared to number of hours. New or increased fees must be board-approved, communicated in writing with advance notice, and reported in facility budget and financial audit. |
| SaskatchewanSK |  | Permitted fees include: specialty programming, transportation, excursions, diapers/sunscreen/bug spray, enhanced nutrition options, before and after school programs, extended hours beyond 10-hour standard day (with specified caps), registration/enrolment, late pick-up, and late payment fees. Prohibited additional fees include: waitlisting, inclusion supports, mandatory donations, and “core” child care services. Fees must be disclosed in parent handbooks and documented with receipts. |
| AlbertaAB |  | Operators are permitted to charge additional fees for “optional services” including meals/snacks, transportation, field trips, cultural/enrichment activities, extended hours, diapers, sunscreen, one-time waitlisting, registration fees, and extracurricular activities. Beyond basic program operation, additional fees are not explicitly prohibited. Operators are required to report additional fees to the province twice yearly. |
| British ColumbiaBC |  | Waitlist fees are prohibited. Otherwise, no additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours beyond 9.5 hours per day. |
| YukonYT |  | No additional fees are explicitly prohibited, including meals fees for food, transportation, field trips, and extended hours. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT |  | Operators are prohibited from charging any additional fees beyond the regulated fee, but waitlist fees are not prohibited. The Northwest Territories uses a voluntary donation model, wherein operators may accept donations for food, transportation, extended hours, field trips, and other services and programs. |
| NunavutNU |  | Operators are prohibited from charging any additional fees beyond the regulated fee, except for late pick-up penalty fees. |

Last updated: October 7, 2026

---

---
title: "Contact us"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "Have a question for us? Ask away. Comments? We look forward to hearing from you."
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# Contact us

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![Childcare Resource and Research Unit logo](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CRRU-logo-trans-e1729786302694.png)

## Childcare Resource and Research Unit

32 Heath St W.
Toronto ON Canada
M4V 1T3Telephone: 416-926-9264
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Website: [childcarecanada.org](https://childcarecanada.org)

## Weekly child care news

[Subscribe to our weekly newsletter](https://childcarecanada.org/weekly-newsletter)

CRRU’s newsletter provides curated policy documents, news articles, upcoming events and newly released publications relevant to the current climate of early childhood education and care (ECEC). These become part of the website’s keyword searchable [Online Document Catalogue](https://childcarecanada.org/crru-online-documents/search) of ECEC-pertinent resources.

---

---
title: "Democratic participation"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/democratic-participation/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Democratic participation Democratic participation should inform and support the implementation and ongoing operation of a high quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system – from parent advisory groups to child care sector engagement to citizen engagement processes at all"
last_modified: "2026-03-05T21:19:14+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
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  iawp_total_views: 68
---

# Democratic participation

# Democratic participation

Democratic participation should inform and support the implementation and ongoing operation of a high quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system – from parent advisory groups to child care sector engagement to citizen engagement processes at all levels of government.

## Participation is meaningful

A broad range of citizens who care about ELCC, including children, families, educators, employers, advocates, researchers, and academics, must be involved in the development, implementation, and operation of a transformed child care system.

All aspects of ELCC engagement processes – from design to delivery and follow-up – should be informed by a diversity of stakeholders whose views are respectfully considered. Governments must provide stakeholders with clear, relevant information about the scope of the engagement process and how their input will be used to shape government decisions.

## Participation is valued

ELCC primarily affects parents with young children and educators, yet they are the least likely to have the time and/or resources to inform the system’s development. Governments must provide resources and infrastructure to support and value families’ and educators’ participation. 

For decades, the child care advocacy movement has relied largely on the volunteer work of advocates – mainly women – who engage with families, educators, communities, and policy makers to develop and share research-based policy recommendations, create comprehensive child care plans, and mobilize public and political support. 

Volunteers have played an important role in social movements like child care, relying on women’s unpaid/underpaid labour. Advocates’ time, energy, and expertise should be resourced with core, long-term, organizational public funding, prioritizing the inclusion of diverse voices and multiple perspectives and experiences in the child care advocacy movement.

## resources

[**Democracy as first practice in early childhood education and care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/11/democracy-first-practice-early-childhood-education-and-care)
Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development, article, Sep 2021. International

[**Citizen engagement in child care policy: Examining child care policy problematisations in Canadian newspaper articles from 2008 to 2015**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/citizen-engagement-child-care-policy-examining-child-care)
Routledge, book chapter, Nov 2019. Canada

[**Towards democratic culture and political practice in early childhood education: The case for transformative change at a time of converging crisis**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/01/towards-democratic-culture-and-political-practice-early)
Educação Temática Digital, article, Nov 2023. International

[**Democratic participation in early childhood education and care – serving the best interests of the child**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/democratic-participation-early-childhood-education-and-care)
Nordic Early Childhood Education Research, journal article, Jun 2018. Europe

**[Towards a democratic ECEC system](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/10-towards-democratic-ecec-system) **
UCL Press, book chapter, 2020. Europe

[**Influencing policy change through collective action**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/influencing-policy-change-through-collective-action)
International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development, book, Oct 2018. New Zealand

---

---
title: "Public accountability"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-accountability/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Public accountability Governments must develop and publish annual and multi-year early learning and child care (ELCC) plans, and report publicly on progress. The plans must be updated based on lessons learned and evolving ELCC needs and context. Effective public accountability is"
last_modified: "2026-03-05T21:19:22+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
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# Public accountability

# Public accountability

Governments must develop and publish annual and multi-year early learning and child care (ELCC) plans, and report publicly on progress. The plans must be updated based on lessons learned and evolving ELCC needs and context.

## Effective public accountability is an integral part of a solid ELCC system 

A quality child care system built through the significant expenditure of public funds demands effective public accountability. Robust public accountability requires:

- Publicly available plans, with specific targets and benchmarks for quality, affordability, inclusion, and accessibility;

- Annual public reports comparing actual results to plans, and explaining significant variances;

- Clear, comprehensive public reporting standards to ensure accessible, relevant, timely, consistent, comparable data and information, including, but not limited to, data on parent fees, compensation of early childhood educators, rates of coverage, rates of inclusion, access according to household income, race, Indigenous identity, geographic location, and other factors;

- A defined role for legislators to receive, review, clarify, and question reports and data, and the opportunity for legislators to hear evidence from government and non-government witnesses;

- Meaningful and government-supported citizen engagement in the development of ELCC goals, plans, and monitoring of results;

- Audited public financial reports, to add credibility and increase public confidence.

## resources

[**Does reporting on results make a difference?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/does-reporting-results-make-difference)
Library of Parliament of Canada, government document, Feb 2019. Canada

[**Does public reporting measure up? Federalism, accountability and child-care policy in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/does-public-reporting-measure-federalism-accountability-and)
Canadian Public Administration, journal article, Sep 2010. Canada

[**Why does accountability matter for democracy?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/why-does-accountability-matter-democracy)
YouTube, video, Oct 2015. International

[**Making the connections: Using public reporting to track the progress on child care services in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/07/11/making-connections-using-public-reporting-track-progress)
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, report, Nov 2007. Canada

[**Democratic accountability and contextualized systemic evaluation**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/17/01/democratic-accountability-and-contextualised-systemic-evalu)
International Critical Childhood Policy Studies, journal article, Dec 2016. International

---

---
title: "Data and research"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/data-and-research/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Data and research Building a quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system is a long-term project requiring monitoring, continuous quality improvement, and system corrections based on experience, evidence, and evaluation. A comprehensive data and research strategy is a necessary"
last_modified: "2026-03-05T21:19:31+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 88
---

# Data and research

# Data and research

Building a quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system is a long-term project requiring monitoring, continuous quality improvement, and system corrections based on experience, evidence, and evaluation. A comprehensive data and research strategy is a necessary part of public policy development and system building.

## Good data for good policy 

Building a child care system requires research, data collection, analysis, and development of indicators and dissemination of all of the above. Research should provide answers to key questions about child care provision, use, and governance, as well as impacts on families, children, women, society, and the economy at both national and sub-national levels.

A Canada-wide national data and research strategy implemented collaboratively across the federal government and including provincial/ territorial/ Indigenous partners, researchers, and the child care community is integral to transforming ELCC. The strategy should fund and coordinate ELCC data and research at a Canada-wide level, as well as research on related topics such as labour force participation, parental leave, poverty, and social exclusion.

Good ongoing data ensures that there is updated information on the current ELCC landscape across Canada so policy is being informed by evidence.  

## Availability of data** **

A key element of this strategy will be the commitment to making child care data and research widely available to the public, the ELCC sector, researchers, and policy experts.

## resources

[**Policy lever 5: Advancing data collection, research, and monitoring **](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/policy-lever-5-advancing-data-collection-research-and)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), book chapter, Dec 2011. _International_

[**The state of data on early childhood education and care in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/03/08/state-data-early-childhood-education-and-care-canada)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Jul 2003. _Canada_

---

---
title: "Workforce strategies"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/workforce-strategies/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Workforce strategies A well-qualified workforce is central to a high quality child care system and necessary for the expansion needed. Without it, services will not be high quality and expansion will be hampered. The early childhood education profession has been"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T18:38:06+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
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# Workforce strategies

# Workforce strategies

A well-qualified workforce is central to a high quality child care system and necessary for the expansion needed. Without it, services will not be high quality and expansion will be hampered. The early childhood education profession has been systematically undervalued, making the problems of recruitment and retention of a qualified child care workforce complex and challenging, representing a barrier to implementation of the $10 a day plan. 

## Addressing the workforce crisis 

A comprehensive workforce strategy must address layered, interrelated factors hindering the recruitment and retention of qualified early childhood educators (ECEs). These include:

- Difficult working conditions such as long hours, unpaid overtime, split shifts, inadequate paid leave and paid sick leave, workload, and the requirement to handle complex learning and care needs of children without sufficient and/or ongoing support;

- Job insecurity and precarious employment; 

- Barriers to unionization, as unionization can improve compensation, working conditions, job security, and job satisfaction. It has proven to be an essential and effective mechanism in other predominantly female sectors such as health care and public education;

- Lack of public planning to ensure an adequate supply of qualified ECEs where they are needed; 

- Limited access to affordable post-secondary education in early learning and child care (ELCC) and ongoing professional development;

- Under-developed or weak human resource capacity and policies, including challenges related to the qualifications and support of program leadership;

- Limited occupational mobility;

- Systematic devaluing of care work including ELCC work;

- Misogyny and racism faced by the largely female ELCC workforce, particularly its racialized members.

## Interlinked ELCC workforce issues

**Recruitment and retention**
The twin challenges of attracting (recruitment) and keeping (retention) qualified ECEs are long-standing and pervasive. Both – especially retention – are key for maintaining and expanding high quality ELCC as the system grows.

**Compensation and benefits**
The foremost ELCC workforce issue is that wages are low and benefits are limited. This is a Canada-wide issue, although there is variability by region, auspice, and unionization. Child care staff compensation – which usually comprises 85-90% of a non-profit centre budget – must be paid from public funds if child care is to be affordable for parents and offer decent wages to the workforce.

**Education and training**
Evidence shows that the main appropriate pre-service education and training for providing high quality ELCC is a post-secondary early childhood education credential. Additionally, ongoing professional development is instrumental in creating and maintaining high quality ELCC services.

**Working conditions**
Poor working conditions contribute to burnout and exit from the profession for educators working with young children. The conditions include long hours “on the floor,” unpaid overtime, split shifts, lack of support staff for tasks such as cleaning, challenges of handling complex needs of children without sufficient support, lack of prep time for program planning, and lack of paid leave including sick leave. Poor ELCC working conditions are [linked](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/15/05/early-childhood-care-working-conditions-training-and) to low retention, poorer quality for children, insufficient public funding, and inadequate public policy.

**Respect and recognition**
ECEs have long struggled for respect and recognition of the value of their work. Lack of respect and recognition is manifested in the workforce issues facing ECEs: low wages, precarious employment, inadequate support, absent career ladders, and lack of recognition for further education. Despite ample research showing that early childhood education is not “just babysitting,” these devaluing issues persist as concerns in and of themselves, and they also affect how educators and people around them view the worth of early childhood education work.

## resources

### Recruitment and retention

[**A summary of ELCC workforce policies as of December 2023 under the Canada-wide child care system**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/04/summary-elcc-workforce-policies-december-2023-under-canada)
Child Care Now, report, Apr 2024. Canada

[**Understanding and addressing workforce shortages in the ECEC sector: Recruitment and retention challenges and strategies**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/10/understanding-and-addressing-workforce-shortages-ecec)
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, report, Sep 2009. Canada

[**Shedding new light on staff recruitment and retention challenges in child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/05/06/shedding-new-light-staff-recruitment-and-retention-challeng)
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, report, Apr 2005. Canada

### Compensation and benefits

[**Position paper on a publicly-funded ELCC salary scale**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/10/position-paper-publicly-funded-early-learning-and-child)
Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), report, Oct 2023. Ontario

[**You bet we still care! A survey of centre-based early childhood education and care in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/02/you-bet-we-still-care)
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, report, Feb 2013. Canada

[**Professional pay for professional work**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/09/professional-pay-professional-work)
Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), article, Sep 2013. Ontario

[**Working for change: Canada’s child care workforce**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/04/11/working-change-canadas-child-care-workforce)
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, report, Nov 2004. Canada

[**Review of the ILO policy guidelines on the promotion of decent work for ECE personnel**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/03/review-ilo-policy-guidelines-promotion-decent-work-ece)
Education International, report, Mar 2024. International

### Education and training

[**People, programs and practices: A training strategy for the early childhood education and care sector in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/people-programs-and-practices-training-strategy-early)
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, report, Dec 2007. Location

[**Quality by design: What do we know about quality in early learning and child care, and what do we think? A literature review**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/quality-design/06/01/quality-design-what-do-we-know-about-quality-early-learning-and-ch)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, Jan 2006. Canada

**[Early childhood education and care: Working conditions and training opportunities](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/14/09/early-childhood-education-and-care-working-conditions-and) **
Eurofound, report, Jan 2014. Europe

[**The education and care divide: The role of the early childhood workforce in 15 European countries**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/01/education-and-care-divide-role-early-childhood-workforce-15)
European Journal of Education, journal article, Nov 2012. Europe

### Working conditions

[**Early childhood care: Working conditions, training and quality of services – A systematic review**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/15/05/early-childhood-care-working-conditions-training-and)
Eurofound, report, Feb 2015. Europe

[**The union advantage in child care: How unionization can help recruitment and retention**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/03/07/union-advantage-child-care-how-unionization-can-help-recrui)
Child Care Connections, report, Jul 2003. Canada

[**Unionization and quality in early childhood programs**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/03/09/unionization-and-quality-early-childhood-programs)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), report, Mar 2002. Canada

[**Supporting quality early childhood education and care through workforce development and working conditions**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/supporting-quality-early-childhood-education-and-care)
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), report, Mar 2018. International

### Respect and recognition

[**Towards competent systems in early childhood education and care. Implications for policy and practice**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/16/08/towards-competent-systems-early-childhood-education-and)
European Journal of Education, journal article, Nov 2012. Europe

[**An investment that works for child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/investment-works-child-care)
Public Policy Forum, report, Sep 2022. Canada

[**The importance of early childhood educators**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/importance-early-childhood-educators)
Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA), video, Nov 2020. Manitoba

---

---
title: "Public and non-profit provision"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-and-non-profit-provision/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Public and non-profit provision To protect the transformed child care system and public resources, expansion of publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) must be limited to public and non-profit services. Expanding for-profit ELCC provision is a risky business"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T22:17:58+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 220
---

# Public and non-profit provision

# Public and non-profit provision

To protect the transformed child care system and public resources, expansion of publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) must be limited to public and non-profit services.

## Expanding for-profit ELCC provision is a risky business

In 2025, in [eight of the 12 jurisdictions with available data](https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/ECEC2024-FR-Key-Findings-FEB-3.pdf), 40% of full-day centre spaces were for-profit.

Further for-profit growth would be detrimental to building a universal, equitable, high quality child care system. Evidence shows that for-profit child care compromises staff compensation, quality, and equity, as well as the preservation of regulations and progressive social policy. 

## For-profit child care has been consolidating

For-profit child care owners have been consolidating across provinces, countries, and globally, with large providers – increasingly backed by private equity firms – buying up small for-profit providers. [Evidence](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/occasional-paper-series/21/06/risky-business-child-care-ownership-canada-past-present) shows control of child care by large corporate providers is likely to be inequitable and unaccountable. Canada’s significant new child care funding has created a magnet for large investment firms seeking profitable “assets.” This demonstrably carries potential dangers to Canada’s child care goals. 

As Canada’s aim is to build a publicly funded and managed, accessible, affordable, high quality, and equitable ELCC system, expanding for-profit services is inconsistent with this aim. To achieve and protect Canada’s stated ELCC goals, child care expansion must be primarily public and non-profit.

## resources

[**Risky business: Child care ownership in Canada past, present and future**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/occasional-paper-series/21/06/risky-business-child-care-ownership-canada-past-present)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Jun 2021. Canada

[**What’s wrong with for-profit child care?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/06/what%E2%80%99s-wrong-profit-child-care)
Childcarepolicy.net, article, Jun 2021. Canada

[**Acquisitions, mergers and debt: The new language of childcare**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/22/02/acquisitions-mergers-and-debt-new-language-childcare)
University College London Social Research Institute, report, Jan 2022. Europe

[**The newest threat to the care economy: Private equity**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/04/newest-threat-care-economy-private-equity)
Reimagining Care/Work Policies, presentation, Apr 2024. Canada

[**Paving the path: Addressing market imbalances to achieve quality and affordable childcare in more places**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/paving-path-addressing-market-imbalances-achieve-quality)
Mandala, report, Oct 2024. Australia

---

---
title: "Expansion strategies"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/expansion-strategies/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Expansion strategies Each province’s/territory’s action plans must include a commitment to developing a comprehensive expansion plan. Expansion strategies must be publicly led and concrete  The development of new early learning and child care (ELCC) programs has largely been a private"
last_modified: "2026-03-05T21:19:57+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 83
---

# Expansion strategies

# **Expansion strategies**

Each province’s/territory’s action plans must include a commitment to developing a comprehensive expansion plan.

## **Expansion strategies must be publicly led and concrete** 

The development of new early learning and child care (ELCC) programs has largely been a private responsibility in Canada, an approach that has been ineffective in ensuring adequate supply or equitable distribution. Public expansion strategies have led successful expansion in countries with well-developed child care systems. 

## Comprehensive expansion plans should include common elements

Although provincial/territorial expansion plans are likely to vary according to the jurisdiction’s situation, some elements must be included across the board:

- Targets and timetables for meeting coverage goals;

- A capital planning and funding process to meet expansion targets; 

- Integration of ELCC into public planning processes at all levels, such as local planning for affordable housing or schools;

- Strategies for expanding ELCC in existing and new publicly owned buildings and properties, and on publicly owned land;

- Strategies for ensuring that publicly funded capital assets, regardless of where they are developed or who develops them, remain in public hands;

- Designation of a local or regional public entity that assumes responsibility for ELCC planning, including ensuring that new public and non-profit facilities are developed, managing data collection, ensuring public reporting, and liaising with provincial/territorial officials to meet expansion targets and timetables;

- Mechanisms for data collection, research, evaluation, and reporting on all aspects of expansion.

## resources

[**How to create early childhood spaces: Lessons from Quebec**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/05/how-create-early-childhood-spaces-lessons-quebec)
Policy Options, article, May 2023. _Quebec_

[**How to make child care expansion happen in Ontario**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/how-make-child-care-expansion-happen-ontario)
Building Blocks for Child Care (B2C2), report, Oct 2022. _Ontario_

[**How provinces and territories are funding the capital cost of expanding regulated child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/05/how-provinces-and-territories-are-funding-capital-cost)
Child Care Now, article, Apr 2024. _Canada_

[**BC’s path to universal child care podcast season 3, episode 2: Sharon Gregson**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/bcs-path-universal-child-care-podcast-season-3-episode-2)
Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre (WCCRC), podcast, 2024. _British Columbia_

---

---
title: "Publicly led and funded expansion"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/publicly-led-and-funded-expansion/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Publicly led and funded expansion Publicly led and funded expansion is needed to close the gap between service supply and parental demand that has created service shortages and inequitable access. Sufficient capital funding to support the costs of expanded public"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T18:34:42+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 99
---

# Publicly led and funded expansion

# **Publicly led and funded expansion**

Publicly led and funded expansion is needed to close the gap between service supply and parental demand that has created service shortages and inequitable access. Sufficient capital funding to support the costs of expanded public and non-profit early learning and child care (ELCC) facilities is required.

## **ELCC supply is currently insufficient and inequitable** 

There has long been an urgent need to increase the supply of regulated child care in Canada. The new Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) federal funding has reduced parent fees, driving up demand for child care, and exacerbating the need for expansion. [Research](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/05/not-done-yet-10-day-child-care-requires-addressing-canada%E2%80%99s) shows that 48% of young children below kindergarten age live in “child care deserts” defined as living in a postal code with more than three young children for every licensed child care space. In addition to geography, the distribution of child care is inequitable across age groups, race, family income, and tenure in Canada. 

## Responsibility for expansion must be public

Child care deserts exist primarily because Canadian child care has not benefited from the same public responsibility and planning that ensures other essential services such as schools, roads, and sewers are available in every community. The development of new ELCC programs has largely been a private responsibility in Canada, with non-profit groups or for-profit entrepreneurs stepping up where they have the capacity and the interest. To ensure access through adequate supply, child care expansion must become a public responsibility rather than a private one.

## Capital funding

The lack of capital funding in most of Canada has been a major barrier to developing needed not-for-profit child care where it is needed. Equitable access requires that public capital funding is available to develop services based on public planning.

## resources

[**Not done yet: $10 a day child care requires addressing Canada’s child care deserts**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/05/not-done-yet-10-day-child-care-requires-addressing-canada%E2%80%99s)
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), report, May 2023. _Canada_

[**How to grow an accessible, high quality, equitable child care system**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/07/how-grow-accessible-high-quality-equitable-child-care)
Policy Options, article, Jul 2021. _Canada_

[**Moving from private to public processes: A series on creating child care in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/other-publications/22/01/moving-private-public-processes-series-creating-child-care)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Jan 2022. _Canada_

---

---
title: "Public funding with conditions"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-funding-with-conditions/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Public funding must come with conditions All child care operators who are part of the new publicly funded child care system must accept the need for public accountability through conditions designed to ensure the best evidence-based and publicly accountable uses"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T19:40:27+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 56
---

# Public funding with conditions

# **Public funding must come with conditions**

All child care operators who are part of the new publicly funded child care system must accept the need for public accountability through conditions designed to ensure the best evidence-based and publicly accountable uses of public funds.

## **Public funding requires public accountability** 

As part of the transformed child care system, all existing regulated early learning and child care (ELCC) programs for children 0 to 5 years – public, non-profit, and for-profit – have been invited to be part of the new funded Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system, known as the $10 a day plan, which is substantially publicly funded. 

But public funding requires public accountability. Mechanisms covering all child care programs receiving CWELCC funds must ensure that public funds are used – based on the best evidence – to move all services towards the stated goals: affordable, accessible, high quality, inclusive ELCC for all.

## Conditions for receiving public funds

Thus, the conditions for receiving public funds must include the following:

- Paying staff according to a competitive provincial/territorial salary grid determined through negotiation with representatives working in the sector;

- Respecting the province’s/territory’s fee structure; extra-billing of any kind should be prohibited);

- Ensuring cultural safety for Indigenous children and families;

- Including children with additional support needs to fully participate in child care;

- Welcoming and respecting diverse children and families including Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, immigrant, and refugee children and families and those with disabilities;

- Adhering to and implementing provincial/territorial pedagogical frameworks;

- Participating in quality and system improvement;

- Establishing a parent/family advisory body to provide input into the operation of child care services;

- Providing delegated government entities with financial and other information required for accountability purposes;

- Participating in research, data collection, and evaluation;

- Ensuring transparency and accountability in financial and governance matters.

## resources

**[CBC Marketplace: Who’s watching the kids?](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/02/cbc-marketplace-whos-watching-kids)**
CBC Gem, video, Feb 2013. Canada

[**Understanding early childhood education and care utilization in Canada: Implications for demand and oversight**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/19/10/understanding-early-childhood-education-and-care)
International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, journal article, Oct 2019. Canada

[**The Ontario government’s plan to loosen child-care rules is dangerous**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/19/01/ontario-governments-plan-loosen-child-care-rules-dangerous)
The Conversation, article, Dec 2018. Ontario

**[Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile: The story of for-profit child care in Ontario](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/give-them-inch-and-theyll-take-mile-story-profit-child-care)**
Childcarepolicy.net, article, Oct 2022. Ontario

[**Encouraging quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC): Minimum standards matter**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/12/03/encouraging-quality-early-childhood-education-and-care-ecec)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), research brief, Jun 2012. International

[**What goes around comes around when it comes to for-profit child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/blog/what-goes-around-comes-around-when-it-comes-profit-child-care)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, blog, Sep 2022. Canada

---

---
title: "Sufficient operational funding"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/sufficient-operational-funding/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Sufficient public cost-based funding of ELCC operational budgets Funding for child care programs must be determined by funding formulas based on the program's full operating costs. These cost-based funding formulas will be designed by each province/territory. The patchwork approach falls"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T18:38:06+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 92
---

# Sufficient operational funding

# Sufficient public cost-based funding of ELCC operational budgets

Funding for child care programs must be determined by funding formulas based on the program’s full operating costs. These cost-based funding formulas will be designed by each province/territory.

## **The patchwork approach falls short** 

Historically, early learning and child care (ELCC) funding was a patchwork of parent fee revenue, grants, and payments that fell far short of the costs of operating high quality, affordable child care. Child care services relied primarily on parent fees to cover operational costs, including staff compensation. This resulted in out-of-reach parent fees and low staff compensation, contributing to high staff turnover and lower quality programs.

Since 2021, the new federal funding has largely replaced [parent fees](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/10/measuring-matters-assessing-canada%E2%80%99s-progress-toward-10-day) through a fee revenue replacement model. But the old patchwork funding model remains, with government funding split into parent fee replacement and separate grants and payments, such as wage enhancement and other funds. Affordability for low income families continues to be addressed in part through outdated, stigmatizing parent fee subsidies, which often fail to ensure access.

## **Toward an operational funding model with sufficient funds** 

Public funding must be allocated in a way that recognizes child care as a system. Transforming child care into a stable, high quality, universal system requires a cost-based funding model that accounts for the full cost of operating a child care program. 

Cost-based funding formulas must include all operational costs including fair staff compensation and facility, food, administration, and other program costs. 

Cost-based funding will also be based on the ages and number of children (licensed capacity and occupancy rate), days and hours of operation, facility costs, and location. 

These public operational funds may be supplemented by affordable geared-to-income parent fees (from $0 to a $10 a day maximum fee).

## resources

[**What direction now? Ontario’s Funding and Management Guidelines for 2023 and beyond**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/briefing-notes/22/10/what-direction-now-ontario%E2%80%99s-funding-and-management-guidelines)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, BRIEFing notes, Oct 2022. Ontario

[**Policy brief 2: Ontario child care funding formula**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/05/policy-brief-2-ontario-child-care-funding-formula)
Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), report, May 2024. Ontario

[**Hallelujah! Ontario finally has a new funding formula**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/hallelujah-ontario-finally-has-new-funding-formula)
Childcarepolicy.net, blog, Sep 2024. Ontario

[**Giving parents money doesn’t solve child care problems**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/09/giving-parents-money-doesn%E2%80%99t-solve-child-care-problems)
The Prosperity Project, report, Sep 2024. Canada

[**Financing early learning and child care in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/04/11/financing-early-learning-and-child-care-canada)
Canadian Council on Social Development, report, Nov 2004. Canada

[**Could the Conservatives’ tax credit help create more child-care spaces?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/21/09/could-conservatives-tax-credit-help-create-more-child-care-spaces)
CTV News, news article, Sep 2021. Canada

[**Early education and childcare in the UK and beyond: Key challenges and lessons**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/10/early-education-and-childcare-uk-and-beyond-key-challenges)
Women’s Budget Group, report, Sep 2023. International

---

---
title: "Public management"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-management/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "post"
description: "Public management Transforming child care to a well-functioning system must include a shift to public responsibility for leading, planning, managing, expanding, and maintaining regulated child care. This requires shifting responsibilities from private groups or individuals to provincial/territorial governments or other"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T19:40:27+00:00"
categories: [10-critical-components]
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 71
---

# Public management

# Public management

Transforming child care to a well-functioning system must include a shift to public responsibility for leading, planning, managing, expanding, and maintaining regulated child care. This requires shifting responsibilities from private groups or individuals to provincial/territorial governments or other government bodies such as municipalities.

## Relying on private responsibility is ineffective and risky

Canadian child care has long relied on non-profit groups and entrepreneurs (for-profit providers) to develop, manage, and maintain regulated child care. This dependence on private individuals and groups to deliver an essential service is ineffective and risky and creates child care deserts.

## What does public management entail?

Public management of child care provision includes but is not limited to:

- Deciding the type and location of services according to community need and public interest;

- Setting up operations, including securing funding and licensing;

- Establishing parent fees, staff compensation, and working conditions;

- Ensuring the viability and sustainability of provision;

- Developing and maintaining quality assurance mechanisms;

- Conducting regular evaluations and research to inform ongoing system improvements.

## resources

[**From child care market to child care system**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/child-care-market-child-care-system)
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), article, Sep 2015. Canada

[**A bad bargain for us all: Why the market doesn’t deliver child care that works for Canadian children and families**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/19/06/bad-bargain-us-all-why-market-doesn%E2%80%99t-deliver-child-care)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, May 2019. Canada
**
[How child care services are created in Canada](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/other-publications/22/01/how-child-care-services-are-created-canada)**
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, Jan 2022. Canada

[**The municipal role in child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/05/municipal-role-child-care)
Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), report, May 2024. Canada

[**Neoliberalism and early childhood education: Markets, imaginaries and governance**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/06/neoliberalism-and-early-childhood-education-markets)
Routledge, book, Apr 2021. Europe

---

---
title: "10 critical components"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/ten-critical-components/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "10 critical components A roadmap for ELCC system building Based on Child Care Now’s Canada-wide Roadmap to Affordable Child Care for All, these 10 components are critical for early learning and child care (ELCC) system building. The critical components and"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:05:46+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 319
---

# 10 critical components

# 10 critical components

![Smiling girl in a wheelchair with both arms raised in celebration.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/girlinwheelchair-300x300.png)

## A roadmap for ELCC system building

Based on Child Care Now’s Canada-wide [Roadmap to Affordable Child Care for All](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/07/canada%E2%80%99s-roadmap-affordable-child-care-all)_,_ these 10 components are critical for early learning and child care (ELCC) system building. The critical components and accompanying curated resources are intended to broaden and deepen knowledge about policy and implementation issues by helping users drill down, understand, and consider the closely linked points.

### Funding

[Sufficient operational funding](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/sufficient-operational-funding/)

[Public funding with conditions](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-funding-with-conditions/)

### Expansion

[Publicly led and funded expansion](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/publicly-led-and-funded-expansion/)

[Expansion strategies](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/expansion-strategies/)

[Public and non-profit provision](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-and-non-profit-provision/)

### Governance

[Public management](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-management/)

[Public accountability](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/public-accountability/)

[Democratic participation](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/democratic-participation/)

[Data and research](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/data-and-research/)

### Workforce

[Workforce strategies](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/workforce-strategies/)

---

---
title: "Roadmaps"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/roadmaps/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "roadmaps Community roadmaps The Canada-wide child care community has developed a series of early learning and child care roadmaps, several before the announcement of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan in 2021, while others followed"
last_modified: "2026-10-17T23:36:09+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 285
---

# Roadmaps

# roadmaps

![Two young girls playing doctor, one with a stethoscope and clipboard.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DR_nurse-REVISED2-600x536.png)

## **Community roadmaps**

The Canada-wide child care community has developed a series of early learning and child care roadmaps, several before the announcement of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care $10 a day plan in 2021, while others followed or have been updated. A [Canada-wide roadmap](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/07/canada%E2%80%99s-roadmap-affordable-child-care-all) was developed by Child Care Now. Note that child care community organizations have developed other policy documents in addition to these roadmaps.

## **Tools for navigating to an ELCC vision**

Each roadmap identifies key ELCC issues, describes a child care vision and goals, and outlines the actions required to achieve them. Roadmaps, which were developed using participatory consultative processes, are available as tools and guides for advocates, allies, researchers, and policy makers.

| Canada-wide |
| --- |
| Canada's roadmap to affordable child care for all |
| Provincial/territorial |
| NL |
| ON |
| MB |
| SK |
| AB |
| BC |

---

---
title: "Quality"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/quality/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "quality Quality should be at the core Quality – one of the principles of the $10 a day plan affirmed and specified in the federal legislation – should be at the core of all early learning and child care (ELCC)"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:04:59+00:00"
custom_fields:
  iawp_total_views: 376
---

# Quality

# quality

![Four young children sitting close together, smiling and laughing.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/group-of-4-kids-600x278.png)

## Quality should be at the core

Quality – one of the principles of the $10 a day plan affirmed and specified in the federal legislation – should be at the core of all early learning and child care (ELCC) provision. [Research shows](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/norway-law-decrees-let-childhood-be-childhood) that high quality ELCC programs are beneficial for children, but poor quality child care may be negative. As international ELCC official [Adam Pokorny declared](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/11/early-childhood-education-and-care-new-direction-european), “access without quality is of little merit.”

## Multiple definitions of quality

Understandings of ELCC quality are determined in part by the stakeholder’s perspective – child, parent/family, or early childhood professional – and in part by ideas about the purpose of ELCC, which are informed by societal values and historical, economic, and political context. Although there are key conceptual differences among countries that define approaches to quality, [common elements emerge](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/quality-design/06/01/quality-design-what-do-we-know-about-quality-early-learning-and-ch) from consideration of ELCC quality globally.

### Common elements of ELCC quality

- Safety;

- Good hygiene;

- Good nutrition;

- Opportunities for rest;

- Equity and inclusion;

- Opportunities for play;

- Opportunities for motor, social, language, cognitive, and cultural learning;

- Encouragement of emotional growth;

- Positive interactions with adults;

- An environment and practices that support positive interactions among children.

## A quality system

Some analyses of ELCC quality focus on quality at the level of the individual child care centre or service, often using indicators of quality or measures of process quality (such as the [ECERS](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/environment-rating-scales) or [CLASS](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/classroom-assessment-scoring-system-class) and others ).

Another way of looking at quality is at the system level. In [OECD research](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/04/10/curriculum-issues-national-policy-making), the major obstacles to ELCC quality found across countries were structural or system failings – lack of adequate financing, unfavourable staff to child ratios, poorly qualified and poorly remunerated staff, inadequate pedagogical theory, and weak implementation.

A consensus has emerged that a framework of system-level conditions is essential for ensuring that high quality ELCC programs are the norm, not the exception. Early childhood education expert [Mathias Urban emphasizes](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/20/10/starting-wrong-critical-perspective-latest-permutation-debate) that inclusive, ongoing processes of exploring, debating, and searching for ELCC quality are fundamental to democratic and transformative ELCC practice. In some countries, public responsibility for ensuring ongoing [quality assessment and improvement is an integral part of the ECEC system](https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/eurypedia/denmark/quality-assurance- early-childhood-and-school-education) and is embedded and specified in legal and administrative structures.

## resources

**[Elements of a high quality early learning and child care system](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/quality-design/05/03/elements-high-quality-early-learning-and-child-care-system) **
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, Sep 2005. Canada

**[Quality child care in focus: What parents should look for](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/video/13/02/quality-child-care-focus-what-parents-should-look) **
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, video, Feb 2013. Canada

**[Envisioning quality in early learning: Essential actions for a national program](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/03/envisioning-quality-early-learning-essential-actions) ** 
Early Childhood Pedagogy Network, video, Mar 2024. Canada

[**A review of research on the effects of early childhood education and care (ECEC) upon child development**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/review-research-effects-early-childhood-education-and-care) 
University of Oxford, report, Dec 2014. Europe

[**Conditions for moving beyond “quality” in Canadian early childhood education**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/20/12/conditions-moving-beyond-%E2%80%9Cquality%E2%80%9D-canadian-early-childhood)
Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory, article, Dec 2020. Canada

[**Starting wrong? A critical perspective on the latest permutation of the debate on the quality of early childhood provision**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/20/10/starting-wrong-critical-perspective-latest-permutation-debate)
Alliance for Childhood European Network Foundation, book chapter, May 2015. Europe

**[Providing quality early childhood education and care: Results from the Starting Strong Survey 2018 (TALIS)](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/20/02/oecd-providing-quality-early-childhood-education-and-care)**
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), report, Oct 2019. International

[**Starting strong VI: Supporting meaningful interactions in early childhood education and care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/12/starting-strong-vi-supporting-meaningful-interactions-early)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), report, Jun 2021. International

[**Quality by design: What do we know about quality in early learning and child care, and what do we think? A literature review**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/quality-design/06/01/quality-design-what-do-we-know-about-quality-early-learning-and-ch)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, Jan 2006. Canada

[**Inclusion quality: Children with disabilities in early learning and child care in Canada**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/06/inclusion-quality-children-disabilities-early-learning-and)
SpeciaLink, book, Jun 2021. Canada

[**Will the increased investment in early childhood education and care in Canada pay off? It depends!**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/07/will-increased-investment-early-childhood-education-and)
Canadian Public Policy, journal article, May 2024. Canada

[**An examination of regulatory and other measures to support quality early learning and child care in Alberta**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/20/12/examination-regulatory-and-other-measures-support-quality)
Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care and The Muttart Foundation, report, Nov 2020. Alberta

---

---
title: "Quebec’s ELCC"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/elcc-in-quebec/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "Quebec’s ELCC Quebec exceptionalism Quebec has been building its own publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) system since the late 1990s, even before the current asymmetrical ELCC policy arrangements were established with the Government of Canada. Quebec child"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:04:59+00:00"
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# Quebec’s ELCC

# Quebec’s ELCC

![Young child in glasses and a pink shirt, wearing a backpack, with hands on hips.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/asian-boy-with-backpack-750-600x469.png)

## Quebec exceptionalism

Quebec has been building its own publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) system since the late 1990s, even before the current [asymmetrical](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/asymmetrical-federalism) ELCC policy arrangements were established with the Government of Canada. Quebec child care is now supported in part by federal funds under Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) but is not subject to federal conditions. 

## **Maximum parent fees and operational funding**

Quebec began setting parent fees of $5 a day for all 0 – 12 year olds and operationally funding child care centres in 1997, favouring non-profit child care centres (called centres de la petite enfance, or CPEs). This policy shift fundamentally changed Quebec ELCC, as child care became more affordable and publicly funded.

## Policy makes a difference

Since that time, there have been many policy, funding, and political changes, with Quebec serving both as a model and an opportunity for policy learning for the rest of Canada. As Quebec policy shifted to facilitate the growth of for-profit centres, issues of poorer for-profit quality have become a concern. 

## resources

[**Reforming Québec’s early childhood care and education: The first five years**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/occasional-paper-series/02/05/reforming-qu%C3%A9becs-early-childhood-care-and-education-firs)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, book, Apr 2002. Canada

[**Quebec’s childcare program at 20: How it has done, and what the rest of Canada can learn**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/18/01/quebec%E2%80%99s-childcare-program-20)
Inroads: Canadian Journal of Opinion, journal article, Nov 2017. Canada

[**Les services de garde subventionnés: l’exception du Québec dans le contexte fédéral**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/02/les-services-de-garde-subventionn%C3%A9s%E2%80%89-l%E2%80%99exception-du-qu%C3%A9bec)
Institute for Research on Public Policy, report, Apr 2002. Canada

[**How does Quebec’s universal daycare work, and what can the national $10 a day programs learn from it?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/22/04/how-does-quebec%E2%80%99s-universal-daycare-work-and-what-can-national-10)
Globe and Mail, news article, Apr 2022. Canada

**[What is the Quebec model of early learning and child care?](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/21/02/what-quebec-model-early-learning-and-child-care) **
Policy Options, news article, Feb 2021. Canada

[**Accessibilité et qualité des services de garde éducatifs à l’enfant du Québec: point de vue d’un chercheur Ontarien**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/22/11/accessibilit%C3%A9-et-qualit%C3%A9-des-services-de-garde-%C3%A9ducatifs-%C3%A0)
Childcarepolicy.net, presentation, Sep 2022. Canada

[**New support for the economic benefits of universal child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/24/07/new-support-economic-benefits-universal-child-care)
Childcarepolicy.net, blog, May 2024. Quebec

---

---
title: "First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/first-nations-metis-and-inuit-early-learning-and-child-care/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC Truth and Reconciliation  In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified early learning and child care (ELCC) for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people as part of redressing historic wrongs, as had the"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:05:46+00:00"
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# First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC

# First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ELCC

![Young child in a yellow t-shirt jumping with arms outstretched.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jumping-black-kid-389x600.png)

## **Truth and Reconciliation**

** **In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified early learning and child care (ELCC) for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people as part of redressing historic wrongs, as had the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1996.

## First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ELCC frameworks and the IELCC

The TRC and subsequent commitments to Indigenous peoples set the stage for the [First Nations](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/first-nations-early-learning-and-child-care-framework), [Inuit](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/inuit-early-learning-and-child-care-framework), and [Métis](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/m%C3%A9tis-nation-early-learning-and-child-care-framework) ELCC frameworks and the umbrella [_Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) Framework_](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/18/09/indigenous-early-learning-and-child-care-framework). The IELCC recognizes the distinct rights, interests, and circumstances of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nations that must be acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented.

High-level principles underpinning ELCC development and provision are shared among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. For all three groups, cultural identity is central and self-determination is key in designing and delivering ELCC programs. Each group has its own cultural priorities with respect to serving children and families.

## resources

**[Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to action](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/09/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-canada-calls-action) **
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Report, Jun 2015. Canada

**[Indigenous early learning and child care framework](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/18/09/indigenous-early-learning-and-child-care-framework) **
Employment and Social Development Canada, government document, Sep 2018. Canada

**[First Nations early learning and child care framework](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/first-nations-early-learning-and-child-care-framework) **
Government of Canada, government document, Sep 2018. Canada 

**[Inuit early learning and child care framework](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/inuit-early-learning-and-child-care-framework)  **
Government of Canada, government document, Sep 2018. Canada

**[Métis Nation early learning and child care framework](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/m%C3%A9tis-nation-early-learning-and-child-care-framework)  **
Government of Canada, government document, Sep 2018. Canada 

**[Metis Nation early learning & child care (ELCC) Accord](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/metis-nation-early-learning-child-care-elcc-accord) **
Government of Canada, government document, Mar 2019. Canada

**[ECEC in Canada 2021: ELCC for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/early-learning-and-child-care-first-nations-inuit-and-m%C3%A9tis) **
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Apr 2023. Canada

[**What we heard: Perspectives from Indigenous governments and organizations**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/what-we-heard-perspectives-indigenous-governments-and)
Government of Canada, report, Nov 2022. Canada

[**Understanding child care in First Nations communities **](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/understanding-child-care-first-nations-communities)
First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC), report, Mar 2018. Canada

[**Inuit submission to employment and social development canada regarding national Indigenous early learning and childcare framework**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/inuit-submission-employment-and-social-development-canada) 
Inuit Tapirit Kanatami, report, Oct 2017. Canada

[**Early childhood education and care training in Nunavut**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/early-childhood-education-training-nunavut)
First Peoples Child & Family Review, journal article, Aug 2021. Canada

[I**ELCC Transformation Initiative**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/ielcc-transformation-initiative) 
BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, article, no date. Canada

[**Exploring the data landscapes of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children’s early learning and child care (ELCC)**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/exploring-data-landscapes-first-nations-inuit-and-m%C3%A9tis)
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, report, 2020. Canada

---

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title: "A coherent system"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "a coherent system Coherence is important The importance of coherence in early learning and child care (ELCC) policy and provision was first recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In their 2001 comparative report on early childhood"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:04:59+00:00"
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# A coherent system

# a coherent system

![Young child doing a downward dog yoga pose.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/boy-on-allfours-600x362.png)

## Coherence is important

The importance of coherence in early learning and child care (ELCC) policy and provision was first recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In their 2001 comparative report on early childhood education and care in 12 countries, the OECD identified a lack of coordination and coherence as a major concern.

## Three interlinked domains: Affordability, access, and the workforce

A child care system has many parts and interlinked policy domains. In a coherent system, three main domains – affordability, access to services, and the child care workforce – work together to ensure that a universal, high quality ELCC system can develop and function effectively. The three-legged stool shows how a child care system’s components fit together to form a coherent whole to deliver high quality child care for all. 

![Diagram of a coherent system as a three-legged stool. The seat is high quality child care for all; the legs are workforce, affordability, and access. It stands on sufficient public funding, research and data, democratic engagement, ongoing quality improvement, and public accountability.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Three-legged-stool-graphic-1200x764.jpg)

[Download this graphic [PDF]](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Three-legged-stool-graphic.pdf)

## **Coherence between child care and other programs**

Kindergarten plays a growing care and education role for four- and five-year-olds in Canada, along with before- and after-school child care programs for four- to 12-year-olds. Coherence between these programs and child care – and between child care and the paid parental leave available to most Canadian families – affects quality and parents’ access to child care.

## resources

### A coherent system

[**Building a national child-care system requires a coherent, ambitious approach**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/03/building-national-child-care-system-requires-coherent)
Policy Options, article, Mar 2021. Canada

**[Elements of a high quality early learning and child care system](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/quality-design/05/03/elements-high-quality-early-learning-and-child-care-system) **
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, article, Sep 2005. Canada

[**Executive summary: Starting strong – early education and care. Report on an OECD Thematic Review**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/briefing-notes/01/12/executive-summary-starting-strong%E2%80%94early-education-and-care-report-)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, BRIEFing notes, Jul 2001. International

**[What is the impact of out-of-home integrated care and education settings on children aged 0-6 and their parents?](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/04/05/what-impact-out-home-integrated-care-and-education-settings) **
Evidence for Policy & Practice Information Centre (EPPI Centre) University College London, report, Jan 2004. Europe

[**A new deal for children?: Re-forming education and care in England, Scotland and Sweden**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/new-deal-children-re-forming-education-and-care-england)
Bristol University Press, book, Jun 2004. Europe

[**Integrating child care and early education: A central theme in early learning and care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/toward-provincial-framework-early-learning-and-care-alberta)
The Muttart Foundation, report, Oct 2012. Alberta

### Kindergarten and parental leave

[**Parental leave needs an overhaul**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/22/02/parental-leave-needs-overhaul)
Policy Options, article, Feb 2022. Canada

[**ECEC in Canada 2021: Parental leaves and benefits**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/parental-leaves-and-benefits)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Apr 2023. Canada

[**20th international review of leave policies and research 2024**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/20th-international-review-leave-policies-and-research-2024)
International Network on Leave Policies and Research, report, Sep 2024. International

[**Parental-leave rich and parental-leave poor: Inequality in Canadian labour market based leave policies**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/16/05/parental-leave-rich-and-parental-leave-poor-inequality) 
Journal of Industrial Relations, article, Sep 2016. Canada

---

---
title: "From a market to a system"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/from-a-market-to-a-system/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "from a marketto a system From a patchwork market to a publicly funded system: how fifty years of advocacy, the $10 a day plan, and Canada’s first federal child care legislation laid the foundations, and what comes next in Phase"
last_modified: "2026-10-23T14:27:24+00:00"
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# From a market to a system

# from a market
to a system

![Smiling young child holding a yellow pepper and a red pepper.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/kid-veggies-isolated-600x400.png)

From a patchwork market to a publicly funded system: how fifty years of advocacy, the [$10 a day plan](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/), and Canada’s first federal child care legislation laid the foundations, and what comes next in Phase 2. As the system builds, ideas such as [system “coherence”](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/a-coherent-system/) and [community roadmaps](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/roadmaps/) will remain important for tracking progress and pointing the way.

## The story so far

- [Before2017 ](#h-before)A market, not a system Decades of patchwork services, unaffordable fees, and low international ratings — while fifty years of advocacy built the policy groundwork for change.

- [2017 ](#h-before)Multilateral ELCC Framework Federal, provincial, and territorial governments set out the principles: affordability, accessibility, quality, and inclusivity.

- [2018 ](#h-before)Indigenous ELCC frameworks The [Indigenous ELCC Framework](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/first-nations-metis-and-inuit-early-learning-and-child-care/), which includes distinct First Nations, Métis, and Inuit frameworks.

- [2021 ](#h-phase1)The federal budget commits [Budget 2021](https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/federal-budget-2021-child-care-budget) funds a Canada-wide system; all provinces and territories sign agreements and develop action plans.

- [2021–26Phase 1 ](#h-phase1)Foundations laid Fees fall toward $10 a day, spaces expand, and supply-side public funding replaces the market approach.

- [March2024 ](#h-c35)Bill C-35 becomes law Canada’s first federal child care legislation entrenches long-term commitment to the system.

- [April2026 ](#h-phase2)Phase 2 begins Agreements extended to 2031 in most of Canada’s thirteen provinces/territories, marking the beginning of the next stage of system building. These were followed by agreements with the remaining three provinces.

## **A market, not a system**

Canadian child care has always been a market, not a system. It has been a patchwork of insufficient services, unaffordable parent fees, inequity, quality challenges, a poorly compensated workforce, and weak and intermittent government support. Before the $10 a day plan, Canadian child care received [low ratings in international analyses](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/child-care-transition-league-table-early-childhood).

### Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework

Developments leading to Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) first phase included the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework (2017), the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework (2018), and the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit frameworks. Then came the 2021 federal budget, and the first Canada-wide provincial/territorial agreements and action plans.

The 2017 Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework laid out the principles for CWELCC: Affordability, Accessibility, Quality, and Inclusivity.

### **Fifty years of child care advocacy**

Child care advocacy laid the policy groundwork for the government vision and policy set out in [government commitments](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html) to transform the child care market into an equitable, coherent system for all.

## **Phase 1 (2021–2026): ****laying the foundations**

### The policy blueprint

System-building’s first phase (2021–2026) laid the foundations for the envisioned child care system. Provincial/territorial implementation was to be shaped by common high-level policy elements. These include a universal approach, supply-side funding, expansion primarily through public and non-profit provision, inclusivity, and recognition of the child care workforce’s key role.

### Bill C-35: the system becomes law

Bill C-35, _[An Act Respecting Early Learning and Child Care](https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-35)_, Canada’s first federal child care legislation, became law March 19, 2024. Including a rights-based approach, it reaffirms federal government commitment to establishing and maintaining a system in which “all children in Canada” have access to high-quality, affordable, inclusive child care programs, “in particular those provided by public and not-for-profit child care providers”.

### What Phase 1 accomplished — and what it didn’t

CWELCC’s most noteworthy first-phase development was that licensed child care (outside Quebec) became primarily publicly funded for the first time. Its main accomplishments and challenges were:

### Accomplished

- Reducing parent fees to $10 a day was the first priority. In 2025, six provinces and territories set fees at $10 a day; others made substantial reductions.

- A majority of jurisdictions used government-set fees, with some higher than $10 a day.

- There was substantial expansion of spaces in most jurisdictions.

- Many initiatives addressed workforce issues Canada-wide.

### Still to address

- Expansion did not meet the targets, and parent demand soared as fees dropped.

- Child care remained unevenly distributed geographically and by age group, as public planning for expansion remained limited.

- Affordability for all was not accomplished.

- Despite the “primarily not-for-profit” commitment, for-profit expansion accounted for much of the growth — more than 40% of the growth of full-day spaces in seven jurisdictions was for-profit.

- Workforce issues were not addressed comprehensively; qualified staff shortages remained widespread.

- Quality and data issues remained outstanding.

## **Phase 2 (2026–2031): **
**what comes next**

The first five-year agreements ended March 31, 2026. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered provinces/territories the chance to extend their existing agreements through 2031. Ten jurisdictions immediately accepted, with three — Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan — coming to agreements later.

PM Justin Trudeau was replaced in 2025 by Mark Carney as Liberal leader and Prime Minister. In the subsequent election, Mr. Carney’s Liberals again formed government, committing in the [election platform](https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Party%20positions%20on%20child%20care%20Federal%20election%202025.pdf) to “protect and strengthen” the CWELCC plan.

Phase 2 officially began April 1, 2026. With agreements now extended to March 2031 in all thirteen jurisdictions, the work ahead is to keep building: continuing fee reductions, expanding equitably distributed public and non-profit child care, strengthening the workforce, and ensuring that Canada’s child care is high quality.

The second phase agreements retained the federal funding in place at the end of the 2021 – 2026 agreements plus a 3% “escalator”. Although additional funding to continue building early learning and child care was not included either in Prime Minister Carney’s first budget or the 2026 Spring Economic Update, in June 2026, [an additional $5.4 billion](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/26/06/ottawa-adding-54b-child-care-provinces-advocates-had-warned-progress) was announced for 2026–27 and 2027–28 “to sustain and stabilize the national $10 a day early learning and child care program”.

[Follow developments on _Tracking progress_](/tracking-elcc-system-progress/)

## resources

### **Phase 1**

**[Measuring matters: Assessing Canada’s progress toward $10 a day child care for all ](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/10/measuring-matters-assessing-canada%E2%80%99s-progress-toward-10-day)**
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), report, Oct 2023. _Canada_

[**ECEC in Canada 2023: The state of Canadian early childhood education and care in 2024**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/state-canadian-early-childhood-education-and-care-2024)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Aug 2024. _Canada_

[**ECEC in Canada 2021: The state of Canadian early childhood education and care in 2022**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/state-canadian-early-childhood-education-and-care-2022)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Apr 2023. _Canada_

[**Federal budget 2021: The child care budget**](https://childcarecanada.org/resources/issue-files/federal-budget-2021-child-care-budget)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, ISSUE file, Apr 2021. _Canada_

[**Early learning and child care agreements**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/early-learning-and-child-care-agreements)
Government of Canada, government document, Jul 2020. _Canada_

[**Summary of the early learning and child care agreements and first action plans**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/ecec-canada/23/04/summary-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-agreements-and)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Apr 2023. _Canada_

[**Is $10 daycare in trouble?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/24/02/10-daycare-trouble)
CBC Front Burner, podcast, Feb 2024. _Canada_

### **Before the plan**

[**An analysis of the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework and the Early Learning and Child Care Bilateral Agreements**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/20/12/analysis-multilateral-early-learning-and-child-care)
Child Care Now, report, Feb 2019. _Canada_

[**Innocenti report card 8: The child care transition**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/innocenti-report-card-8-child-care-transition)
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, report, Dec 2008. _International_

[**OECD thematic review of Canadian early childhood education and care: Highlights from the recommendations**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/briefing-notes/04/09/oecd-thematic-review-canadian-early-childhood-education-and-care)
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, BRIEFing notes, Sep 2004. _International_

[**Harper and child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/11/harper-and-child-care)
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), book chapter, Sep 2008. _Canada_

[**Universal child care: Is it for real this time?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/21/04/universal-child-care-it-real-time)
CBC Front Burner, podcast, Apr 2021. _Canada_

[**“This half century of struggle”: A look back at child care advocacy**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/05/%E2%80%9C-half-century-struggle%E2%80%9D-look-back-child-care-advocacy)
Active History, article, May 2021. _Canada_

[**Rock-a-bye, Brian: The national strategy on child care**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/23/07/rock-bye-brian-national-strategy-child-care)
McGill-Queen’s University Press, book chapter, Jan 1989. _Canada_

---

---
title: "About this resource"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/about-this-resource/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "About this resource As incremental changes shaping the future of ELCC in Canada are underway, this resource can inform and empower collective system-building. Its curated materials are organized to contribute to community knowledge at all levels. Use it as a"
last_modified: "2026-10-16T20:05:12+00:00"
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# About this resource

# About this resource

As incremental changes shaping the future of ELCC in Canada are underway, this resource can inform and empower collective system-building. Its curated materials are organized to contribute to community knowledge at all levels. Use it as a starting point to find research, evidence, developments, and tools to understand and engage with policy and advocacy, whether you are an early childhood educator, a parent, a policy maker, a researcher, a student, a social justice activist, or an interested ally. For additional information, visit [childcarecanada.org](https://childcarecanada.org) or [contact us](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us).

**Author:  **[**Childcare Resource and Research Unit**](https://childcarecanada.org)

**Acknowledgements (in alphabetical order):**

Gayaththiri Aruran, Patrícia Borges Nogueira, Billie Carroll, Alexie Cossette, Laura Feltham, Martha Friendly, Yomna Hafi, Derek Laventure, Jade Lillace, Sophia Mohamed, Thơ Nguyễn, Alisha Tax, Matthew Taylor, Grace Wolfe

Much appreciation is due to Women and Gender Equality Canada for supporting this work through a Capacity Grant.

![Women and Gender Equality Canada / Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wage-fegc-logo.png)![Government of Canada](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/canada-wordmark.png)

![Childcare Resource and Research Unit logo](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CRRU-logo-trans-600x323.png)

**Childcare Resource and Research Unit**
32 Heath St W.
Toronto ON Canada
M4V 1T3
Telephone: 416-926-9264
_Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm._
Website:** [childcarecanada.org](https://childcarecanada.org/)**

[Contact us](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/contact-us/)

---

---
title: "Building Canada’s Child Care System"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "Building Canada's Child Care System Universal child care through the $10 a day plan This website is designed to explore the parts of Canada's $10 a day early learning and child care plan and the implementation of an affordable, equitable,"
last_modified: "2026-10-17T20:36:14+00:00"
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---

# Building Canada’s Child Care System

# Building Canada’s
Child Care System

Universal child care through the $10 a day plan

[What is the $10 a day plan?](/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/)

![Two young girls dressed as superheroes in capes and masks, standing back to back.](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/supergirls-trans-bkgrnd-783x1200.png)

This website is designed to explore the parts of Canada’s $10 a day early learning and child care plan and the implementation of an affordable, equitable, accessible, high quality, inclusive Canada-wide early learning and child care system.

## Implementation details are key to success

Putting an early learning and child care (ELCC) system in place is complex, especially in the context of [Canadian federalism](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/25/05/new-carney-government-must-tackle-canada%E2%80%99s-outdated-system). The implementation, which is primarily to be carried out by provinces and territories, is critically important. The foundation for the [$10 a day plan](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/) was laid in [the 2021 federal budget](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html), but the details of each jurisdiction’s approach to implementing it determine how and when the vision of a universal, affordable, accessible, high quality, and inclusive ELCC system in Canada becomes a reality.

### Making a historic commitment

In 2021, the Government of Canada made a historic commitment to build a Canada-wide early learning and child care system (the [$10 a day plan](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/) or CWELCC). CWELCC would be “a transformative project on a scale with the work of previous generations of Canadians, who built a public school system and public health care”.

### A multi-year approach to system building

The first foundational system-building benchmark was reached when all provinces and territories reached agreements with the federal government by March 2022. Federal,provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governing bodies began working to put the [$10 a day plan](https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/what-is-the-10-dollar-a-day-plan/) in place from coast to coast to coast. These first agreements and accompanying action plans paved the way for the longer-term system-building work needed to achieve the ambitious shared goals. In 2025, as the first agreements were about to end, the federal government reached a second round of agreements with almost all provinces and territories.

### A long term proposition

The stated expectation was that “[meaningful progress towards a system that works for families](https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html)” would be accomplished over the first five years. There was widespread recognition that building a full early learning and child care program that could meet the shared goals of universality, affordability, accessibility, high quality and inclusivity would be a much longer-term endeavour, with the expectation that new bilateral agreements and action plans would be put in place when the first five-year phase came to an end in 2026.

---

---
title: "Privacy Policy"
url: "https://staging.buildingchildcare.ca/privacy-policy/"
lang: "en-CA"
type: "page"
description: "Privacy policy Who we are The Childcare Resource and Research Unit created this website. Our main website address is https://childcarecanada.org, and this website's address is https://buildingchildcare.ca. How this website was built The website manager used an AI assistant (Claude, made"
last_modified: "2026-10-19T16:23:16+00:00"
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# Privacy Policy

# Privacy policy

## Who we are

**The Childcare Resource and Research Unit created this website**. Our main website address is https://childcarecanada.org, and this website’s address is https://buildingchildcare.ca.

## How this website was built

The website manager used an AI assistant (Claude, made by Anthropic) to help develop this site – for example, with layout and code changes, accessibility and search engine checks, and suggested wording. People reviewed all of this work, and the content of the site is the responsibility of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit.

The AI assistant was a development tool only. It is not part of the website you are using, and it does not collect any information from visitors.

## Comments

This website does not accept or collect comments.

## Cookies

This website does not use cookies.

## How long we retain your data

If you submit a contact form, we keep your email address in the response process, but we delete all email addresses after the communication process has been completed.

We do not collect other users’ data. Analytics user data is anonymous.

---