December 4, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Affordable child care is essential to Canada's economy. Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and every parent deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing their child is cared for, in a safe and inclusive environment.
That is why the governments of Canada and Ontario continue to work together to support the successful implementation of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system, ensuring that families across the country will continue to have access to high-quality regulated child care for an affordable price.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, along with the Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario's Minister of Education, announced a one-year extension to the Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (Canada-wide ELCC) Agreement, until March 31, 2027. The ministers also announced that future funding of $695 million would be instead provided by Canada to the province in 2026, to help maintain eligible child care fees at their current average of $19 per day until December 31, 2026.
In total, today's announcement means that more than $3.9 billion in federal funding will be allocated to the Government of Ontario in 2026-27 to support continued access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care programs and services. This follows $11.5 billion allocated to the Government of Ontario, under all early learning and child care agreements and $28.5 billion in provincial investment in early years and child care (including full-day kindergarten) over the term of the initial Canada-wide ELCC Agreement (2021-22 to 2025-26).
Building on this extension, the governments of Canada and Ontario will continue to work together towards long-term solutions for the Canada-wide ELCC Agreement, to support the continued implementation of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system beyond 2026.
