Ontario and Ottawa extend child-care program for four years

Ontario and the federal government have agreed to extend the national affordable childcare program in the province for another four years, giving families and operators funding certainty through 2031. The deal includes nearly $12 billion in federal funding over four years, along with Ontario's share of an additional $5.4 billion for the national program. Fees in Ontario are expected to stay at an average of $19 a day, capped at $22, until June 30, 2027. The extension keeps the program in place but does not guarantee further reductions toward the federal goal of an average $10 a day. Officials say the added funding should help maintain current spaces and support future expansion, even as waitlists continue to grow in some parts of the province.