Peel addresses affordability barriers for families who need support to access quality child care

BRAMPTON, ON (August 12, 2025) - Many families living in Peel region still need financial help to access quality licensed child care despite the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan. CWLECC is critical to improving affordability and access for families with children birth to 6 years old. However, it doesn’t address the affordability barriers for families of children ages 6 to 12 who need before and after-school care.

To support families with school aged children, in the fall of 2023 Peel Region introduced a Before and After-school Affordability and Enrichment program that reduces the fee families pay by 50 percent. Peel also provided funding for enrichment activities. These could be athletic or artistic such as sports, music and dance, or programs that support education or independence such as STEAM programs and homework assistance. The program is available to children attending licensed centre-based and home child care providers.

In the first year, 34 providers participated and supported 6,254 spaces. For the current 2024-2025 school year there are 38 providers participating that supported 7,794 spaces. Feedback from providers and families have been positive. For example, families say that the lower fees encouraged them to enroll their children, helped them with covering essential living expenses, reduced their financial stress and improved their overall home life. Providers reported an increase in enrollment due to the lower fees.

Peel will continue its Before and After-school Affordability and Enrichment program for the upcoming 2025 to 2026 school year based on the availability of provincial funding. Funding availability and ongoing impact of the program will determine if Peel continues it in the future.

In addition to children 6 to 12 years old, CWELCC does not fully address affordability for lower income families who need more financial support to access child care.

The child care subsidy program helps families with lower income pay for licensed child care. Families must show they need child care due to employment, education, training, or special circumstances.

The current $20,000 annual income threshold to qualify for full subsidy was established in 2007. However, it has not kept pace with the cost of living or the Statistics Canada Low-Income Measure for a family of four, which was $60,510 in 2023. Peel is calling on the Ontario government to increase the threshold.

The amount of subsidy families receive is based on the adjusted net income from their most recent tax return. The portion of child care that they pay is called their “parental contribution,” which increases when families earn a higher income. Families who receive subsidy and earn more than $20,000 a year must pay a parental contribution while families earning less do not have to pay it.

Child care subsidy is an essential support for families who cannot afford the full cost of child care. An update to the child care subsidy income threshold that reflects inflation is critical to providing universal and equitable access to child care.