The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system supports quality, accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity in licensed child care. It was initiated and funded by the Government of Canada and CWELCC is a five-year plan to reduce the cost of child care to an average of $10 per day by 2026.
The City is working with the Province of Ontario to implement this program for families with eligible-aged children.
You can find a CWELCC-participating child care program:
To be eligible for CWELCC fee reductions that will help with the cost of child care, children need to be under the age of six, and enrolled in a child care program participating in CWELCC.
If your child turns six between January 1 and June 30 and is enrolled in a CWELCC participating Preschool, Kindergarten, Family-Age Group or Home Child Care (enrolled through the agency or privately) program, they are eligible for a fee reduction until June 30.
If your child turns six years of age after June 30, and is enrolled in a CWELCC participating Preschool, Kindergarten, Family Age Group or Home Child Care (enrolled through the agency or privately) program, they are eligible for a fee reduction until the end of the month in which they turn six.
If your child is enrolled in a CWELCC participating School-Age program and turns six, they are eligible until the end of the month they turn six.
If your child is enrolled in a CWELCC participating program, how much you will pay for child care will depend on what the child care fee was on March 27, 2022. Fees were ‘frozen’ on this date (unless the child care program communicated an increase to families before that time).
In 2022, CWELCC participating programs had to refund 25% of frozen child care fees, to a minimum of $12, retroactive to April 1, 2022 and reduce fees going forward.
In 2023, CWELCC participating programs had to reduce their frozen child care fees by 52.75% to a minimum of $12 per day.
In 2024, currently, CWELCC participating programs must continue to reduce their frozen child care fees by 52.75% to a minimum of $12 per day.
If you are receiving a Child Care Fee Subsidy, please go to the Child Care Fee Subsidy & CWELCC section.
There are two types of child care fees: base fees and non-base fees.
Base fees are mandatory costs that families must pay to receive child care.
Non-base fees are optional services, where there is an additional fee.
If you have questions or concerns about the fee you are being charged, please speak to the program and ask for details about the frozen fee and the reduction. If you continue to have concerns, please reach out to the Toronto Children’s Services District Consultant assigned to the child care program. Their contact information can be found on the bottom of each child care listed in the A – Z List of Licensed Child Care Centres.
If the frozen daily fee was $100 on March 27, 2022 (this is the date child care fees were frozen, unless the program communicated an increase to families before that time):
If the frozen monthly fee was $1,000 on March 27, 2022 (this is the date child care fees were frozen, unless the program communicated an increase to families before that time):
If the frozen daily fee was $25 on March 27, 2022, (this is the date child care fees were frozen, unless the program communicated an increase to families before that time):
The Child Care Fee Subsidy continues to be available for eligible families. A families’ assessed subsidy fee may be reduced up-to 50% depending on the number of eligible children in your family and if the child care program is participating in CWELCC.
If you are currently receiving Child Care Fee Subsidy and have questions about the CWELCC program, please contact the child care program.