IMPORTANT
Due to significant demand for the child care subsidy, there are currently higher than normal wait times. To learn how to apply for the subsidy or start the application process, see below.
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System
On March 28, 2022, the Federal and Provincial Governments announced a new funding agreement that will reduce the average cost of child care in Ontario.
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) System will be implemented in phases over the next few years to reduce the cost of child care to an average of $10 per day by 2025.
Families will pay lower fees if their provider chooses to enroll in the CWELCC system, and their children are eligible.
As of December 31, 2022, child care providers enrolled in the CWELCC System must reduce their child care fees for eligible children by 52.75 per cent from their March 2022 rates to a minimum of $12 per day.
Child care providers who enroll in the System after January 1, 2023 are required to reduce fees by 52.75 per cent from March 2022 fees, once they are enrolled. The Province will introduce additional fee reductions by September 2024, with a final reduction by September 2025 to an average of $10 a day.
Current status in Halton
There are currently 273 approved licensed child care sites in Halton. All approved sites have received funding and are reducing fees for families. In 2023, participating sites are required to reduce their child care fees by 52.75 per cent from their March 2022 rates, to a minimum of $12 per day.
Applications for operators to enroll into the CWELCC System are closed until further notice. Should additional funding become available to expand CWELCC spaces in the future, Halton Region will consider accepting applications at that time.
More information will be made available in 2023 for licensed child care centres and licensed home child care agencies who want to enroll in the CWELCC System.
Eligibility
Only families with eligible children enrolled in participating child care programs will receive lower fees. If your licensed child centre or licensed home child care agency does not participate, your provider is not required to lower your child care fees.
All eligible children receiving licensed home child care at a premises overseen by an agency are eligible for fee reductions (both agency-placed and privately-placed children).
Age criteria
Fee reduction funding is intended to support children under the age of six. Fees must be reduced for eligible children, which includes:
- Any child, until the last day of the month in which the child turns six years old (irrespective of the type of licensed child care program in which they are enrolled).
- Up until June 30 in a calendar year, any child who:
- turns six years old between January 1 and June 30 in that calendar year; and
- is enrolled in a licensed infant, toddler, preschool, or kindergarten group, a licensed family age group, or home child care.
Families receiving fee subsidy
If your family has a child under the age of six in receipt of fee subsidy, effective December 31, 2022 or the date of enrollment of your provider in 2023, you will see your parental contribution amounts reduced by 50% from the parental contribution charged prior to your child care provider’s participation in the CWELCC System.
If your child care provider does not participate in the CWELCC System, you will continue to receive your current fee subsidy without any change to your parental contribution.
Approved child care providers
For a list of child care providers in Halton approved to participate in the Canada-wide system, please select your community below.
Additional resources
Next steps
- If you have questions about your CWELCC fee reductions or rebates, please contact your child care provider.
- If your child care provider chooses not to enroll, or is not approved by Halton Region to participate, they must tell you. If you wish to withdraw from their program, you can do so without penalty by providing 30 days’ notice to your child care provider.
For updates:
- Check this webpage.
- Connect with your child care provider.
Learn more:
Child Care Fee Subsidy
Eligibility
To be eligible for child care fee subsidy, you must:
- Live in Halton Region
- Be working, training or attending school
- Have children from birth to 12 years of age in licensed child care programs
- Be financially eligible for the child care fee subsidy
Financial eligibility depends on your income. You must file an income tax return and complete an Income Test to determine if you qualify for child care fee subsidy. You will also need a recent copy of one of the following documents:
Exception: Recent immigrants who did not live in Canada in the previous year and had no Canadian income to report for income tax purposes do not need to have filed an income tax return. Your adjusted income will be considered zero for the first year.
Children with special needs
Parents of children with special needs may be eligible for child care fee subsidy for children up to 12 years of age. Call 311 and ask for services for children with special needs.
Child care subsidy calculator
The fee subsidy is based on your family's total income and child care costs. Use the Child Care Subsidy Calculator to see if you are eligible for a fee subsidy, and to find the amount you qualify for.
Note: This tool does not guarantee eligibility for the program.
Applying for child care fee subsidy
To apply for child care fee subsidy:
- Fill out the online form or call 311. If you submit the online form, you will receive an email confirmation.
- A Halton Region Children's Services Intake Worker will call you within 7 to 10 business days to discuss your application. It is helpful to have your Notice of Assessment or your Canada Child Benefit information available for this call.
- If it appears that you may be eligible for child care subsidy, Children’s Services will mail you a letter outlining all the documents you need to complete to continue the application process.
- Send all required documents. Your application is considered incomplete until all the documentation has been received.
- You will receive a confirmation email from Children’s Service confirming the submission of your documents and outlining the next steps in the application process.
Need help?
Halton Region will provide an interpreter at no cost, if you require assistance.
All Halton Region offices are wheelchair accessible. Use Halton Region’s TTY line (905-827-9833) to contact us if you have a hearing impairment.