CWELCC Update Letter to Licensees

Ministry of Education

Minister

315 Front Street West
Toronto ON M7A 0B8
  

November 10, 2025

Dear Child Care Licensees participating in CWELCC,

I am writing to inform you of an important update regarding the federal government’s Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system in Ontario, and have attached an update to be shared with parents and families of children enrolled in your licensed child care program.

As you are aware, Ontario has been actively working with the federal government to secure a sustainable funding agreement that supports the continued delivery of affordable child care under CWELCC. I am pleased to share that Ontario has successfully negotiated a one-year extension of the federal CWELCC program.

This extension provides adequate funding and flexibility to protect the gains made through the first five years of the CWELCC agreement. It will sustain parent fees at their current levels (an average of approximately $19 per day, and a maximum of $22 per day) until December 31, 2026, while allowing Canada and Ontario to continue renegotiation discussions on a longer-term agreement.

While this one-year extension does not address all the funding pressures the federal government's child-care program faces here in Ontario, it ensures continuity of the program for the coming year, stability for families and clarity for the child-care sector in the near term.

I am appreciative that the federal government has come to the table to reach this solution and I will continue working with them to achieve long-term sustainability.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in keeping families informed of CWELCC updates.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Paul Calandra

Minister of Education