September 29, 2026 Vaughan, 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 province will continue to have access to affordable, high-quality, regulated child care.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and the Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario's Minister of Education, announced a four-year extension to the Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Through the extension, Ontario will receive nearly $12 billion in federal funding over the next four years, from March 31, 2027, to March 31, 2031.
As part of this extension, Ontario is committing to maintain current child care fees at $19 per day on average until June 30, 2027.
Keeping child care affordable remains a shared priority as families continue to navigate economic pressures. Over the next year, the governments of Canada and Ontario will work together to maintain affordable fees and establish a sustainable path forward for child care across the province.
This work will include negotiations about Ontario's share of the $5.4 billion over two years announced by the Government of Canada in June 2026 to help provinces and territories maintain stable and affordable child care fees for families.
The Canada-wide early learning and child care system is an important social infrastructure that is helping to build Canada strong by supporting increased participation in the labour force, especially among mothers, boosting economic growth and creating jobs in the early childhood sector.
