Ontario’s Daycare Program Faces Uncertain Future

Three months into her pregnancy in December of 2024, Vera Belazelkoska started what has become a common experience for many families in Toronto: signing up for daycare waitlists.

In fact, she’s applied to twenty-four of them and even created a detailed spreadsheet to keep track of all those applications.

“It feels like a little job of its own,” Belazelkoska told .

“And yet I still have no infant spot for my daughter, and have to delay daycare, and have to delay going back to work.”

It’s been five years since the federal government kicked off its initiative for a nationwide $10-a-day daycare program.

While many parents who’ve accessed more affordable childcare describe it as life-changing, there are still significant gaps in Ontario due to limited spaces and disagreements between different levels of government regarding funding.

Belazelkoska, for instance, has reached out to both profit-driven and non-profit organizations that participate in the program, along with pricier options outside it-simply because her family feels they don’t have much choice.

However, even at more expensive private daycares not included in the program, she hasn’t managed to secure a spot. She’s heard from others about a home daycare nearby that may have availability come September but said “in a daycare centre, we are nowhere near close to getting a spot.”

‘How is this good for the economy?’ mom asks

This sentiment is common among parents in her area. Belazelkoska shares that other local parents also mention needing more time off work than they initially planned after having children.

“How is this good for the economy, all of these people delaying their work?” she asked.

The provincial government arranged for a one-year extension with Ottawa concerning the child-care agreement late last year. The program-which reduces fees to an average of $19 per day in Ontario as a temporary step toward $10-was originally set to expire on March 31.

A “significant increase” in federal funding is essential for ensuring the stability and longevity of the program, according to Emma Testani, spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra.

“Without a revised federal funding commitment, the long-term success of the … program is at risk,” she mentioned in an email.

A spokesperson for Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra says the longevity of the $10-per-day target under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement requires a ‘significant increase in federal funding.’ (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Testani did not respond when asked if there’s any tracking being done on how many Ontarians are currently waiting for child care spots.

Employment and Social Development Canada spokesperson Jessica Lacombe informed via email that both federal and provincial governments will “continue to work together towards long-term solutions” while supporting system implementation “beyond 2026.”

“Each province and territory has responsibility for developing child care systems that best meet their communities’ needs,” she stated while noting that since its launch until 2027, Ottawa has allocated $15.4 billion specifically for Ontario’s program.

Lacombe added that as of June, approximately 41,000 new childcare spaces had been created within Ontario toward an aim of 86,000 by year-end.

More ECEs needed: advocate

Carolyn Ferns from the advocacy group Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care argues it would take a “significant expansion of spaces” to address waitlists across provinces-a situation tied closely with shortages in early childhood educators (ECEs).

“That’s where we need to put a lot of emphasis-and that’s going to require more resources from both federal and provincial governments,” she explained.

Providers face challenges staffing existing spaces-not even mentioning adding new ones. However, if better pay and conditions were offered along with recruitment efforts aimed at ECEs, Ferns believes access could improve quickly.

“If we did that we could see more access very soon because honestly some spaces are closed right now,” she said. “The rooms exist but they’re not staffed; they’re not operational due lack of ECEs.”

Testani emphasized that Ontario has initiated a “comprehensive workforce strategy” aimed at registered childhood educators which includes better wages along with improved working conditions and opportunities for career growth.

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