As one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada, Halton Region is facing a significant challenge: meeting the demand for high-quality, affordable child care spaces. With families juggling rising mortgage rates or rental costs, and other household expenses, access to affordable child care is more critical than ever.

A step forward: The new CWELCC funding model

Halton Region serves as the Service System Manager for early years and licensed child care programs, overseeing the planning, administration, and funding of these essential services. A recent change in funding, the introduction of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) (external link) model, has brought some relief. As of January 1, 2025, Halton has received an increase in CWELCC funding, reducing child care fees to a maximum of $22 per day in licensed child care providers participating in the program. This is a welcome step toward making child care more accessible for families across the region.

The challenge: Meeting growing demand

Despite this investment, the demand for licensed, affordable child care spaces in Halton continues to rise. Many child care operators in the region are eager and ready to expand to accommodate more children, yet Provincial guidelines restrict the use of CWELCC funding for increasing the number of spaces. Without additional support, families may face long wait times, limiting their access to affordable care.

The solution: Provincial investment in expansion

To ensure families in Halton have access to the child care they need, additional Provincial funding is required. Specifically, Halton Region is calling on the Provincial Government to:

• Provide additional community-based spaces and associated funding to support the expansion of CWELCC child care spaces to meet the needs of the growing Halton community.
• Increase administrative funding to allow Halton Region to allocate more resources for oversight, auditing, and administration of the CWELCC program under the new funding model.

Why this matters

Expanding child care capacity in Halton isn’t just about convenience, it’s about supporting working families, fostering early childhood development, and strengthening the local economy. Without the necessary funding, families will continue to struggle to find affordable child care, potentially impacting workforce participation and overall community well-being.

Together, we can ensure that Halton Region families have the support they need today and for years to come.