Open ProvincesChild care in Ontario: fees, finding a space and subsidies
What regulated child care costs in Ontario, how to find a space and which subsidies exist, from the official pages.
What child care costs
Ontario's goal is an average of $10 a day for children under six in programs enrolled in the Canada-wide system (CWELCC) by March 2026; a $22-a-day cap took effect on January 1, 2025 as an interim step. Fees at providers that are not enrolled are not reduced. A centre may not charge a waitlist fee.
Official page: child care fees ↗ (read on 2026-11-14)
Find a space
Ask your municipality or the provincial early learning office for the directory of licensed providers, and join waitlists early: many centres have long ones.
Help with the cost (subsidies)
Fee subsidies are applied for through your local service system manager (municipality or district board), not through school boards.
Also useful
- Child care fees by province (Statistics Canada, April 2024)
- Canada child benefit calculator
- Monthly household budget planner
Fees, income limits and programs change: the official page is the authority, and the statements above were read on the date shown. General information. Quebec has its own system: see AtlasQuébec.
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