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Child Care Now Urges Federal Leaders to Strengthen $10aDay Child Care Plan

April 16, 2025

As part of its ongoing “Stand on Guard for Child Care” campaign, Child Care Now has sent letters to the leaders of Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic and Green parties, calling on them to pledge support for strengthening and expanding Canada’s $10aDay child care plan.

In the letters, Child Care Now highlights the transformative impact the federal plan has had on families and the economy since its introduction four years ago. 

“Canadian families have seen more progress on child care affordability in the four years of the $10aDay child care plan than had been made in the last four decades of child care policy that preceded it,” writes Morna Ballantyne, Executive Director of Child Care Now.

Despite the gains made, Child Care Now stresses that there is still more work to be done. The letter calls for continued federal leadership and collaboration with provinces and territories to:

  • Strengthen system-building efforts to create a universally accessible and high-quality ELCC system
  • Ensure a well-compensated and well-supported workforce of Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and staff;
  • Increase the supply of not-for-profit and public child care spaces;

Child Care Now is also urging party leaders to address the ongoing child care workforce shortage through comprehensive workforce strategies—including wage grids, benefits, and pensions—to improve compensation and working conditions for educators and staff.

“The $10aDay child care plan is a hugely popular policy that is already benefiting families in every part of the country,” the letter concludes. “It will be critical public infrastructure to defend Canada from the US government’s economic war on Canada.”

Child Care Now has requested written responses from party leaders by April 15, 2025, affirming their commitment to strengthen the $10aDay plan and fulfill its promise for all families and communities.

Read the letters here:

Read more about the Stand on Guard for Child Care campaign here.

Get involved and pledge your support!