Mixed results for Canada's $10-a-day childcare plan

The Atkinson Centre at the University of Toronto has released a new assessment of Canada's early education and childcare services, presenting mixed outcomes for the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan.  

While the plan has successfully met affordability goals with $10-per-day childcare becoming standard in many parts of the country, the availability of services varies significantly by location.  

Emis Akbari, a co-investigator of the study, noted, “It's difficult to reach a Canada-wide verdict on the status of CWELCC. Access to childcare and the quality of care vary widely depending on the province or territory.” 

The Early Childhood Education Report evaluates developments across various domains, including childcare enrolment, affordability, funding, workforce compensation, administration, and quality by province and territory.  

Jurisdictions are assessed on a 15-point scale of best practices in childcare delivery, with New Brunswick leading this edition with 13.5 points, recognizing its significant efforts to support childcare operators. 

While all jurisdictions have achieved their affordability targets, the challenge remains in creating additional spaces. Except for Québec and the Yukon, where rates were already below $10 per day, fees have been reduced by 50 percent by the 2022 deadline.  

Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador, and most recently the Northwest Territories, have reduced childcare fees to an average of $10 per day, surpassing the goal set for 2026. 

The CWELCC aims to increase access by adding 250,000 new childcare spaces by 2026 for children up to five years of age. As of March 31, 2023, 97,859 spaces have been added, with Prince Edward Island, Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories on track to exceed their growth targets.  

However, expansion is limited in areas where government funding does not cover the actual costs of new constructions and renovations. 

Staffing shortages present a significant barrier to increasing childcare spaces, affecting the availability, stability, and quality of care.  

Akbari explained, “Without educators, centres operate with reduced enrolment, impacting their financial viability. Program quality is compromised by staff turnover and when centres are given government exemptions to run without the required numbers of qualified staff.” 

Provincial and territorial governments have voiced concerns about insufficient funds in the CWELCC agreements to fulfill all promises. This claim is under scrutiny as researchers question the full utilization of the federal funding available.  

Since 2020, provinces and territories have contributed just over $4.5bn to their childcare spending, which is significantly lower than the $15bn offered through the CWELCC agreements. 

Akbari remains hopeful about the future of the program, stating, “Uneven implementation of a new social program isn't new. The hope is that some jurisdictions will use the CWELCC opportunity to do childcare very well, becoming models to envy and emulate.”