Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care (CWELCC) System – Operator Information

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system supports quality, accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity in licensed child care.

Based on child care operators’ feedback, the Province of Ontario announced CWELCC program improvements, effective January 1, 2025. Details are available in the Ministry of Education’s Ontario Child Care and Early Years Funding Guidelines.

In the City of Toronto, the CWELCC system will:

  • Create more affordable, quality licensed child care spaces;
  • Support the early childhood workforce through enhanced compensation, training, and professional learning opportunities; and
  • Improve accessibility by addressing barriers to providing inclusive and flexible child care.

As the service system manager (SSM/CMSM) for Toronto, the City’s role in the CWELCC system is to:

  • Implement the provincial guidelines;
  • Establish local policies, procedures, and funding approaches;
  • Develop and implement an application and approval process for the CWELCC system;
  • Contract for CWELCC funding through Service Agreements;
  • Provide fiscal oversight & funding; and
  • Report to the Ministry of Education and Toronto City Council on the CWELCC system.

For more information, Agencies can contact the consultant assigned to the child care location or Agency. Contact information can be found in the A-Z Listing.

If you’re a parent seeking affordable child care through the CWELCC program, visit Child Care Services for options and eligibility. Low-income families may also qualify for the Child Care Fee Subsidy.

Information about future opportunities for CWELCC enrollment or expansion will be available soon. If you have specific inquiries, please reach out to tcsgrowth@toronto.ca

The 2024 Application for CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grants is now closed. The application process opened May 8, 2024. The deadline to submit applications was June 6, 2024.

For Francophone Agencies the 2024 Application for CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grants is now closed. The application process opened May 22, 2024. The deadline to submit applications was June 19, 2024.

All CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grant applications will be reviewed and approved based on Toronto Children’s Services eligibility criteria, priorities, and space and funding allocations that align with the Ministry of Education’s Access and Inclusion Framework and Toronto Children’s Services Growth Strategy. Other eligibility requirements may be developed and applied by the City of Toronto related to Directed Growth.

Further to the expansion criteria, the Ministry of Education has directed the City of Toronto to maintain its current proportion of not-for-profit child care spaces. In Toronto, a minimum of 80% of the new spaces approved must be not-for-profit spaces. This will be monitored and actioned by Children’s Service throughout the expansion process.

Child Care Agencies that meet the following criteria were eligible to apply:

  • Not-for-Profit Agencies
  • Indigenous Agencies
  • Francophone Agencies
  • Commercial Agencies with child care centres located in a City of Toronto High Priority Ward*

*For more information on the Toronto Children’s Services’ approach to enhance access and inclusion for priority areas and target populations see the June 14, 2023 City of Toronto Council approved report page 9 for the Priority Levels for CWELCC Expansion by Toronto Wards map. To lookup your location’s ward, please visit the Ward Profiles – City of Toronto webpage

Eligibility Criteria for 2024 CWELCC

Eligible Licensed Child Care Agencies

  • Not-for-Profit Agency with a child care centre located in Toronto
  • Indigenous or Francophone Agency
  • Commercial Agency with a child care centre located in a High Priority Ward in Toronto (To lookup your location’s ward, please visit the Ward Profiles – City of Toronto webpage)
  • In addition to the above, for Agencies that currently receive City of Toronto funding: Agencies must be in compliance with current audits and financial recoveries, all requirements have been met on time (including, but not limited to submitted budget, survey, and information requests) so that they are in financial compliance with the Service Agreement

    Application Types that do not require the 2024 Expansion and Start-up Grant Application 

    Applications for new or expansion of Kindergarten and School Age programs in publicly funded schools are approved through the School Boards working directly with TCS and do not require this application. 

    Child Care Centre Requirements

    • New child care spaces are operational in 2024 (See exception related to Start-up Grant).
    • Child care program provides Full-time Access to Service, has efficient room size(s), adequate next age-group room sizes, and sustainable planned enrollment.
    • New or expanded Kindergarten Before & After School only (Full-day kindergarten is a publicly funded service in the Province of Ontario’s education system. Only Kindergarten Before and After School programs not located in publicly funded schools will be considered).
    • Confirmation of Zoning Approval permitted use for Child Care (if applicable).
    • Clear documentation indicating that the property or space has been leased/procured for a new child care centre or a Letter of Intent for Accommodation from building owner.
    • Letter of support /no objection from Landlord (if leased) or building owner to proceed with proposed renovations/alterations (if applicable).
    • If the child care centre is currently licensed, the license is in good standing with the Ministry of Education.
    • Ministry of Education license revision or new license application has been submitted on the Child Care Licensing System-CCLS (if applicable).

    Other eligibility requirements may be developed and applied by the City of Toronto related to Directed Growth.

    Eligibility for CWELCC Start-up Grant

    The Start-up Grant is available to not-for-profit and commercial Licensed Child Care Agencies enrolled in CWELCC.

    • Applicants for Start-up Grants must commit to the following:
    • Utilize the funds to support the creation of new licensed child care spaces, outside of a school, for children 0 to 4 years of age.
    • Participate in the CWELCC system for the remainder of the current CWELCC agreement (March 31, 2026).
    • If approved, expense the Start-up Grant by March 31, 2026 on eligible expenses only.

    For additional information on the Start-up Grant, including eligible expenses, please see the Ministry of Education CWELCC Guidelines, March 2024

    Information about future opportunities for CWELCC enrollment or expansion will be available soon. If you have specific inquiries, please reach out to tcsgrowth@toronto.ca

    The 2024 Application for CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grants opened May 8, 2024 and the deadline to submit applications was June 6, 2024.

    For Francophone Agencies the 2024 Application for CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grants is now closed. The application process opened May 22, 2024. The deadline to submit applications was June 19, 2024.

    All CWELCC Expansion and Start-up Grant applications will be reviewed and approved based on Toronto Children’s Services eligibility criteria, priorities, and space and funding allocations that align with the Ministry of Education’s Access and Inclusion Framework and Toronto Children’s Services Growth Strategy. Other eligibility requirements may be developed and applied by the City of Toronto related to Directed Growth.

    Further to the expansion criteria, the Ministry of Education has directed the City of Toronto to maintain its current proportion of not-for-profit child care spaces. In Toronto, a minimum of 80% of the new spaces approved must be not-for-profit spaces. This will be monitored and actioned by Children’s Service throughout the expansion process.

    Home Child Care Agencies that meet the following criteria were eligible to apply:

    • Home Child Care Agencies with a minimum of 7 active/assigned homes. Active means the Home Child Care Agency has a minimum of 7 Home Child Care providers that are ready to accept enrollment.
    • Indigenous Home Child Care Agency
    • Francophone Home Child Care Agency

      Eligibility Criteria for 2024 CWELCC

      • Home Child Care Agency with a Head Office located in the City of Toronto.
      • Assigned Providers Homes will be located in areas to meet Toronto Children’s Services’ approach to enhance access and inclusion for priority areas and target populations. Please review the June 14, 2023 City of Toronto Council approved report which includes a map of high-priority areas on page 9.
      • Home Child Care Agency provides Full-time Access to Service (Full-time access refers to both the number of hours throughout the day and number of days throughout the year).
      • Sustainable Enrollment: Agency’s policies and enrollment practices will strive to maintain the provider to child ratio according to the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA). (For example, 1 provider for every 6 children. Please refer to the Home Child Care Budget Guidelines).
      • Kindergarten Before & After School only service offerings will provide care before and after school and full day on non-instructional days.
      • If your Agency is currently licensed, the license is in good standing with the Ministry of Education.
      • For Agencies that currently receive City of Toronto funding: No overdue audits or outstanding recoveries, all requirements have been met on time (including, but not limited to submitted budget, survey, and information requests) and no outstanding financial compliance issues.
      • For applicants not enrolled in CWELCC, fees have been reviewed and meet the Provincial cap on fees as outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA). Audited Financial Statements are required to be submitted annually for all agencies in receipt of CWELCC funding.
      • Other eligibility requirements may be developed and applied by the City of Toronto related to Directed Growth.

      Eligibility for CWELCC Start-up Grant

      The Start-up Grant supports the creation of new licensed full day child care spaces for children 0-4 in targeted regions for underserved communities and populations. High need populations include vulnerable children, including those living in low income, children with extra support needs, and Indigenous and Francophone communities.

      To support the creation of new spaces approved Home Child Care Agencies will be able to receive grants of up to $1,200 per new CWELCC space created, to a maximum of $7,200 per provider.

      For additional information on the Start-up Grant, including eligible expenses, please see the Ministry of Education CWELCC Guidelines, March 2024

      Toronto Children’s Services (TCS) will be collecting 2025 Workforce Information submissions from April 22, 2025 to May 20, 2025. This will be used to calculate workforce compensation, Wage Enhancement Grant (WEG) and Home Child Care Enhancement Grant (HCCEG) for eligible centres/agencies.

      For more information, review the 2025 TCS WEG, HCCEG and Workforce Requirements Guide, in the Documents section of this page.

      Additional Resources

      • TCS has developed a CWELCC 2025 Workforce Illustration Tool as a resource to assist licensed child care agencies in understanding the CWELCC  Workforce Compensation and Wage Enhancement calculations for their eligible staff. The tool is accessible by contacting the District Consultant assigned to your Agency.
      • Detailed information regarding requirements and eligibility can be found in the  Ministry of Education guidelines, Chapter 3: Local Priorities.

      For information on prior years Provincial Wage Enhancement and Home Child Care Enhancement Grant, go to Contract & Financial Information, under Documents.

      Updated requirements regarding closure days:

      • During the term of the CWELCC funding agreement, a licensed child care program may not exceed two consecutive weeks of closure and not more than four weeks of closure within a calendar year where parents are charged fees.
      • Toronto Children’s Services cannot fund more than 20 days of closure, inclusive of statutory holidays where parents are charged. For example, if an Agency charges a fee for a statutory holiday that a center is closed, such statutory holiday would be included in the 20 days of closure. Closure days without parent fee charges do not count toward the 20-day limit.
      • As per O. Reg. 137/15 under the CCEYA, all CWELCC-enrolled licensees must disclose closure days and applicable fees in their parent handbook.
      • Licensed child care programs can choose to remain open on statutory holidays in lieu of closure days.

      Compliance requirements:

      Effective January 1, 2025, Agencies will be required to adhere to the two consecutive weeks of closure and four weeks of closure limit within a calendar year. Agencies must ensure that they have no more than 20 days of closure where families are charged a fee, inclusive of statutory holidays.

      If an agency exceeds the days of closure, they may either:

      • Open additional days to bring the total closed days to 20 days or below. This approach will allow the location to maintain the same fees, OR
      • Not charge families base fees for the excess days of closure. This will also reduce the center’s service days in a calendar year.

      Agencies that are considering a sale or transfer of shares are subject to an application process to determine if the Service Agreement is eligible for transfer and if the transfer will be approved.

      For more information on Toronto Children’s Services sale or transfer of shares requirements, please visit Contract & Financial Information.

      Agencies with an existing Service Agreement with Toronto Children’s Services that are considering a closure or relocation of their child care centre (temporary or permanent) must contact their District Consultant for further information.  Contact information can be found in the A-Z Listing.

      If an Agency wishes to dispute CWELCC funding policy or guideline interpretation, the Agency can draft a formal letter to the General Manager (GM) of Toronto Children’s Services and send it to childcare@toronto.ca, outlining the issues and requesting a review. The GM will then initiate an internal review and communicate the outcome via a formal letter.