Hoping for $10-a-day child care? Here’s how many Toronto daycares opted in to the federal program that guarantees low- and middle-income families a child care subsidy.
A child care subsidy is a guarantee that allows parents who work and don’t have any other child care benefit (other than the government benefit) to pay $10 a day, up to a maximum of $8,500 a year, for low- and middle-income families.
The subsidy is only offered to parents with up to four children under six who are between 6 and 12 years old (the maximum age for subsidized child care in Toronto), and who are either employed full time or at least a part-time job.
Child care subsidy available to parents with four or more children
Toronto, with the highest rate of subsidized child care, has 18 subsidized daycares, which means that 1,350 low- and middle-income parents, who can’t afford to pay $5-$20 a day in child care in private daycares, can apply for the subsidy.
While Toronto has the highest rate of subsidized child care in Canada, the program has been expanding across Canada.
In the past 12 months, five new daycares have been opened specifically for subsidized participants. On average, around two new daycares have been opened in each of the past two years.
All other Ontario and Quebec provinces have also expanded their subsidized daycare programs.
Federal subsidy program expands across Canada
In total, there are 2,744 subsidized childcare spots in Canada for parents who are eligible, including 1,100 in Toronto, where the program is especially popular and has been expanding.
In Ontario, 441 subsidized spots (out of 1,098) are available for parents. On average, one new spot is opened per year, and around two spots have been opened for parents each year for the past two years.
In Quebec, there are 332 subsidized daycare spots (out of 1,027) available for parents on the books across the province, on average, one daycare opening every six months and, on average, two spots have been opened for parents each year for the past two years.
There are no statistics available in respect of subsidized child care in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Ontario ministry responsible for daycare subsidies,