Read the PDF here (ISBN 978-1-997048-06-0) Introduction and methodology Child Care Now’s Innovation Project: Growth by Design is exploring, evaluating, and proposing innovative strategies to enhance the sustainability and expansion of public and not-for-profit Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) in Canada. As part of this initiative, seven case studies – in Newfoundland and Labrador,…
It takes more than housing to create a thriving community. Access to affordable child care can unlock education and employment opportunities. Child care is an essential aspect of the social infrastructure that should be located alongside homes.
Growth by Design was a three-year research project (2023–2026) focused on understanding the barriers and opportunities to expanding not-for-profit and public child care in Canada.
The 2021 Federal Budget marked a transformative milestone in Canadian social policy, committing almost $30 billion over five years to establish a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. This investment enabled the federal government to sign initial five-year bilateral agreements with all 13 provinces and territories, creating a national framework focused on reducing fees, creating over 250,000 new spaces, and strengthening the early childhood workforce.
This spotlight paper examines the role of public delivery in building a universal ELCC system in Canada. Drawing on Canadian data and international experience, it highlights the benefits of public delivery, reviews recent trends across provinces and territories, and identifies policy actions needed to remove barriers and support the expansion of publicly delivered licensed child care.
Child Care Now is asking the House of Commons Finance Committee (FINA) to recommend a larger investment in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program as part of the federal government’s plan to make Canada strong, and to provide sufficient funding to implement the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Frameworks. Child Care Now’s…
On March 19th, Manitoba’s Auditor General released his report on the province’s plans and processes to meet the commitments made in the Manitoba-Canada Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Agreement. The 2021 Manitoba-Canada CWELCC Agreement set a target of 23,000 new spaces by March 31 2026. As of November 2025 approximately half of these…
Read the PDF here Introduction Growth by Design, Child Care Now’s federally funded Innovation Project, is examining and promoting innovative strategies to support the sustainable expansion of public and not-for-profit Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) in Canada. As part of this work, seven provincial and territorial case studies are being undertaken—in Newfoundland and Labrador,…
Child Care Now along with 120 other organizations have released a statement congratulating Prime Minister Carney and his government for the decision to include in the 2025 federal budget proposal a $660 million investment in initiatives to advance gender equality. “It’s very good news that Canada’s feminist organizations will now have the opportunity to apply…
Last week, Child Care Now’s “Educators Matter: Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC)” project held a two-day national symposium to continue the work of developing proposals to all levels of government on how to strengthen the early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce. Participants included members of the National ELCC Workforce…
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