Affordable Childcare

#atwhatcost

The True Costs of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Childcare Program

Join our national community of like-minded operators.

United for Accessible, Quality & Sustainable Childcare: A National Conference for Advocacy

Be part of a nationwide dialogue that delves into the intricacies of the Federal Canada-Wide Early Learning and Childcare Program. This conference provides a platform for childcare operators from every corner of the country to come together, offering a space to exchange real-life experiences and insights since the inception of the program. Engage in meaningful conversations about the successes and the hurdles encountered since its implementation.

The importance of affordable childcare resonates across Canada, and our collective aim is to guarantee that the National Program isn't merely a reduction in fees, but a cornerstone for delivering sustainable, high-quality care that is accessible to children of Canada.

Your on the ground expertise and stories are key to ensuring that our national childcare strategy is shaped by those who know it best: the dedicated individuals operating on the front lines. Join us as we unite in this crucial conference to steer the program towards excellence.Your voice matters—let it be heard at this national conference for advocacy.

This meeting will be held over ZOOM with a link being sent to all registrants within 24hr before the event. This is open to all operators across Canada.

Impact of the Affordability Grant on

OPERATORS

#atwhatcost

Cash Flow

Under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, child care operators are confronted with substantial financial challenges. Mandated reductions in parent fees significantly decrease operators' income while they are still expected to maintain high-quality care. This creates a situation where providing consistent, high-standard care becomes financially strenuous. The sustainability of this model is a major concern, as it demands maintaining quality without sufficient financial support.

Inflation

Child care operators are facing mounting financial pressures as parent fees are frozen at lower rates while inflation continues to rise. This disconnect means that government assistance provided under the program is not keeping pace with the increasing costs of running a child care facility, such as wages, utilities, and supplies. The result is a growing gap between the cost of providing high-quality care and the funding available to support it.

Administrative Burden

The administrative cost imposed on all models of operators to administer the government program averages between $20 to $30 per child per month. For instance, considering an average childcare centre in Alberta with 100 children at a cost of $25 per child, the monthly expense totals $2,500. Over the 24 months since signing into this agreement, the cumulative cost amounts to $60,000. These ongoing administrative expenses present an additional financial burden for operators navigating the complexities of the program.

erosion of operational control

Operators within the childcare industry are grappling with a palpable loss of autonomy attributed to government overreach. This interference has led to the centralization of publicly funded childcare, bringing forth ominous cost controls. As a consequence, operators find themselves on the brink of complete loss of control over the unique programs they once ran independently. The shift toward centralized control not only undermines the diverse and individualized approaches operators bring to their programs but also raises concerns about the long-term sustainability and quality of childcare services under this constrained framework.

Quality & Inclusivity

As child care operators grapple with frozen fees and inadequate government assistance that fails to match inflation under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, they are forced into difficult financial decisions. Cost-cutting measures, such as reducing staffing levels and minimizing expenditures on essentials like quality food and educational materials, become inevitable. These reductions can directly impact the quality of care and educational outcomes for children. Moreover, such constraints also hinder inclusivity, as programs with specialized staff or resources for children with diverse needs are being scaled back to manage costs. This cost-pressure scenario threatens the core objectives of the CWELCC initiative—quality and accessible child care for all families.

ACCess

Access to child care remains a significant issue under the program, despite efforts to make it more affordable and widespread. With frozen fees and insufficient subsidies failing to cover rising operational costs, many providers are unable to expand or even sustain the number of available spaces. Consequently, this leads to massive waitlists as demand continues to outstrip supply. Parents, especially in high-demand urban areas or underserved rural locations, find themselves facing lengthy delays in securing child care spots for their children, complicating their return to work and other personal planning. This bottleneck undermines the program's goal of improving accessibility to quality child care across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Impact of the Affordability Grant on

FAMILIES

#atwhatcost

Reliable Childcare

We anticipate challenges to maintain additional educators for coverage. When an educator is unavailable, childcare services may be impacted.

Reduce Operational Hours

We may need to modify our operational hours based on employee availability to optimize resources and uphold the quality of childcare services.

SUPPLIES & PROGRAMMING

Within a commitment to upholding quality services, adjustments of supplies and extra programming may need to be implemented to manage our budget effectively.

Personal childcare operators, parents, and other

Stories

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Fostering

CHOICE AND ACCESS

A balance between affordable childcare for Canadian families

that is still sustainable for operators.

We are dedicated to providing high-quality childcare services.

We acknowledge the financial challenges that many of our families are currently navigating.

We are committed to the
well-being of our families.