Childcare advocates urged the federal and provincial governments on Friday to enhance the $10-per-day childcare system as ministers responsible convened in Ottawa. While most provinces and territories have adopted the $10 daily fee structure, not all have, and targets for creating new spaces are falling short with increasing waitlists. The federal government reported the creation of about 154,000 new spaces since 2021, below the target of 250,000 by March.
Advocates, including Child Care Now, emphasized the importance of not veering away from the childcare goals, especially as the country aims to bolster its economy amidst global trade disruptions. Morna Ballantyne, the executive director of Child Care Now, highlighted the substantial economic benefits of Canada’s $10-per-day childcare program at a press conference in Ottawa, stressing the reliance of Canada’s economy on individuals, particularly mothers, contributing to the workforce and tax revenues.
Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu met with provincial and territorial education and early learning ministers on Friday to discuss the national childcare program. The federal government emphasized the significance of these investments in building a robust economy, supporting parents, and providing equitable opportunities for all children.
Certain provinces, like Ontario, have called for increased federal funding in order to lower parent fees to $10 a day. Although Ontario received an additional $695 million from Ottawa, the province contends that more funding is necessary to achieve the $10 daily fee target. Advocates are also advocating for better wages for childcare workers to address recruitment challenges and retain qualified staff, a key factor hindering the creation of new childcare spaces.
In light of the challenges faced by the childcare industry, advocates stress the urgency for both federal and provincial governments to collaborate on funding and implementing initiatives that support fair wages for educators and expand childcare availability to meet the needs of all families.