The Big Story Will Ontarians ever pay $10/day for childcare?
Nov 14, 2025
David Macdonald, a Senior Economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, dives into the complexities of Ontario's childcare system. He discusses the recent one-year contract with Ottawa, revealing why a $10-a-day childcare system remains elusive. Macdonald highlights staffing challenges and underfunded spaces, contrasting Ontario’s approach with provinces that have successfully implemented affordable childcare. He underscores the importance of improving working conditions for Early Childhood Educators and maps out childcare access across Canada.
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Ontario's One-Year Detour From $10
- Ontario will remain at roughly $22/day for many parents despite the national $10 target.
- The province signed a one-year renewal instead of the five-year plan and avoided committing to $10/day.
Averaging Allows Policy Workarounds
- The federal agreements allowed averaging fees, letting provinces legally reach an average $10/day without a $10 cap everywhere.
- Six provinces already apply a $10 maximum, proving the target can be met with provincial buy-in.
Commit Provincial Funds To Hit $10
- Provinces that reached $10/day put more provincial money into childcare rather than relying solely on federal funds.
- Ontario resisted adding provincial funds and therefore demanded more federal contributions.