The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program has been the biggest shift in Ontario child care in a generation. As of January 2025, fees at participating centres are capped at $22 per day, and the federal-provincial goal is to reach an average of $10 per day by March 2026. Here's what families need to know heading into the final stretch.
What Is CWELCC?
CWELCC is a bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, signed in March 2022 as part of a $13.2 billion commitment. The program applies to licensed child care centres serving children under six who have opted into the system. Not all centres participate — but the vast majority do. Across the province, approximately 85–89%% of licensed centres are enrolled.
How Fees Have Changed
Ontario rolled out fee reductions in phases. In December 2022, fees were cut by 50%% from 2020 levels. In January 2025, the $22/day cap took effect. The next milestone — $10/day average — is targeted for the end of March 2026. Note the $12/day floor means some centres may not drop below that threshold even with full subsidies applied.
How to Check If a Centre Participates
You can verify CWELCC enrollment through the Ontario Ministry of Education's licensed child care search tool. On our site, we flag CWELCC participation rates for every city — for example, Toronto sits at 87%% while Milton is at 89%%.
What About Quality?
Lower fees don't mean lower quality. The CWELCC agreement includes workforce provisions — wage floors for Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) increased to $23.86/hour in 2024 and continue to rise by $1/year. The goal is for RECEs and qualified staff to make up 60%% of the licensed child care workforce by 2025–26.
Planning Your Search
If you're looking for a daycare, start with our city-by-city rankings to compare top-rated centres. Pair that with school rankings if your child will be transitioning to kindergarten soon, and check out neighbourhood reviews to get the full picture of your community.
And if you're relocating to a new city and need help finding a family-friendly home near great child care? Talk to Steve — he knows the GTA inside and out.