Fee Guide
CWELCC in Etobicoke:
What Parents Need to Know
CWELCC (Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care) has made childcare much more affordable for Ontario families.
But “cheaper” does not automatically mean “the same experience at a lower price”.
Current CWELCC fees (2026)
| Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee cap | $22/day maximum for children under 6 in enrolled programs |
| $10/day target | Extended to December 2026. Unlikely to be reached on schedule. |
| Eligibility | Children under 6 in CWELCC-enrolled licensed programs. No income test. |
| Participation | ~92% of Ontario's licensed spaces (ages 0-5) are enrolled |
The “$10/day” headline is a target, not the actual cost.
As of late 2025, Ontario has paused fee reductions to maintain the current $22/day price through 2026.
What CWELCC is designed to do
CWELCC is an affordability and access initiative. The goals are straightforward:
Lower fees for families with children under 6
Expand licensed spaces (Ontario committed to 86,000 new spaces by 2026)
Support the early childhood workforce (wage floors for educators)
For many families, this is exactly what they need: licensed care at a price that does not stress their finances. Others who may want more than basic care may want to consider private early childhood education.
What CWELCC does not guarantee
CWELCC is not a quality rating system. Participation means a centre meets minimum licensing requirements and agreed to fee caps.
CWELCC does not ensure:
Higher-than-minimum staffing ratios
Highly trained and engaged educators
Premium enrichment programming
Low staff turnover
Above-average communication
Specific curriculum or philosophy
The tradeoffs
When a system optimizes for affordability at scale, there are structural pressures:
Potential constraints in stretched CWELCC centres
Less flexibility for 'extras'
Enrichment specialists, premium materials, and enhanced programming cost money. Government funding will not cover these costs.
Staffing challenges
CWELCC wage floors help, but the ECE shortage is real. Some centres struggle to find high quality staff.
Higher turnover risk
Educator wages are improving but still modest. Turnover disrupts children's attachment relationships.
Baseline delivery mode
When budgets are tight, centres default to safe supervision rather than intentional enrichment.
When CWELCC works well
Many CWELCC centres offer quality care. The fee reduction means families pay less.
When evaluating a CWELCC centre, look for:
- Stable, long-tenured educators
- Demonstrable and continous professional development
- Clear enrichment programming regardless of funding
- Warm, calm room environment
- Proactive communication
- Leadership that prioritizes quality over just minimum compliance
How to evaluate a CWELCC centre
Questions to ask on tour
Staffing and stability
- • "How long have the educators in this room worked here?"
- • "What's typical turnover like? What percentage of your staff has been here for over 2 years, 5 years?"
- • "How do you handle coverage when staff are sick or on break?"
- • "How much break time do staff have each day?"
Enrichment and programming
- • "What learning activities happen weekly, no matter what?"
- • "Do you have specialists (early literacy, art, music, movement, etc.)? How often?"
- • "Can you show me examples of recent projects?"
Communication
- • "How will I know what my child did today?"
- • "How do you share developmental progress over time?"
What to observe
Room energy
Calm and engaged, or chaotic?
Educator presence
Interacting with children, or managing logistics?
Transitions
Smooth, or stressful?
Warmth
Do educators seem genuinely connected to the children?
Toronto fee subsidy: additional support
If CWELCC rates are still a stretch, you may qualify for the City of Toronto's Child Care Fee Subsidy:
Income-tested
Unlike CWELCC, the subsidy is based on family income.
Reduces fees further
Sometimes to a few dollars per day.
Eligibility requirements: Live in Toronto (or be a City employee), working, in school, job searching, or have special needs, filed taxes for the most recent year.
Apply for fee subsidyWhy some programs do not participate in CWELCC
Not all licensed programs enroll in CWELCC. Reasons vary:
-
Quality positioning: Some programs serve families willing to pay more for a differentiated, premium experience.
-
Business model: Fee caps do not cover the cost of premium programming some wish to offer.
-
Operational flexibility: CWELCC comes with reporting and compliance obligations.
Non-participation is not a quality signal in either direction. It is a business and values decision.
Your next step
Tour a minimum of two programs: one CWELCC centre and one alternative. Use the same checklist at each of them. The differences become obvious quickly.