Childcare advocates have urged the federal and provincial governments to reinforce the $10-per-day system during a meeting of responsible ministers in Ottawa. While most provinces and territories have adopted the $10-a-day fee structure, not all have, and the targets for creating new spaces are falling behind, leading to growing waitlists. The federal government reported the creation of about 154,000 new spaces since 2021, falling short of the 250,000 goal by March.
Advocates, including Child Care Now, emphasize the importance of maintaining affordable, accessible, and largely non-profit childcare systems, especially as the country aims to stabilize its economy amid global trade challenges. Morna Ballantyne, executive director of Child Care Now, highlighted the significant economic benefits of Canada’s $10-a-day childcare program, noting the vital role childcare plays in enabling more individuals, particularly mothers, to contribute to the economy.
Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, met with provincial and territorial ministers of education and early learning to discuss the national childcare program. A spokesperson for Hajdu emphasized the long-term economic benefits of investing in childcare, supporting parents, and ensuring equal opportunities for every child. Each province and territory is responsible for developing childcare systems tailored to their communities’ needs and priorities, including creating more spaces.
Some provinces, like Ontario, are advocating for increased federal funding for the childcare program. Ontario specifically requested an additional $2 billion annually from the federal government to reduce parent fees to $10 a day. Although Ontario received an extra $695 million from Ottawa, it may only be sufficient to maintain current average fees of $19 a day. Ontario also seeks the removal of a cap on for-profit spaces to facilitate the growth of the $10-a-day program.
Advocates are also pushing for better compensation for childcare workers to address recruitment and retention challenges, which hinder the expansion of childcare services. Parents, like Janet Amito, express concerns about lengthy waitlists and the struggle to secure daycare spots. They stress the need for increased funding from both the provincial and federal governments to support educators with fair wages and expand childcare facilities to meet the demand.