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Your Childcare. Your Choice. Your Voice.
At ACE, we believe parents should have a meaningful voice in the future of childcare in Canada. Families know their children, their schedules and their communities best. Quality childcare should offer families choice, flexibility and access — whether that means full-time or part-time care, preschool, extended hours, home-based care, or another licensed option that works for their family.
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ACE brings together practical resources, information and opportunities to help families understand their options and make their voices heard. Whether you already have care, are searching for a space or are worried about what comes next, your family’s experience matters.
Finding childcare means finding a place where your child can feel safe, supported and connected — and where the hours, location and cost work for your family.
Families choose the care that works for them.
Full-time, part-time, preschool, extended hours or home-based.
Affordable childcare only works when families can actually get it.
Because affordable childcare only works when families can actually access it — and real choice means families can choose the care that works for them.
ACE works to bring the voices of parents and childcare operators together in conversations with governments and policymakers. We advocate for a childcare system that recognizes that families are different, communities are different, and quality childcare cannot be one-size-fits-all.
Our Parent Resource Centre is designed to help you understand the policies shaping childcare in Canada, learn about the issues affecting access and affordability, and give you practical ways to make your voice heard.
You shouldn’t have to be a policy expert to understand why one childcare option is funded while another isn’t, why a program has a waitlist while another has available spaces, or why the type of care that works best for your family may not receive the same public support.
Childcare operators work in partnership with families every day. That is why our advocacy isn’t only about the sustainability of childcare programs — it is also about protecting the ability of families to choose and access quality care that meets their needs.
Since the introduction of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system, childcare has become increasingly shaped by public policy. Government decisions can influence which programs receive funding, which families can access reduced fees, what types of care are available in a community, and what services may — or may not — be included within publicly funded childcare.
Why parent voices matter
At ACE, we believe parents and childcare operators are partners. We want families to understand the policies shaping childcare in Canada so they can make informed choices and advocate for the care their children need.
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Childcare policy affects more than what families pay. It can affect what programs you can access, which childcare options receive government funding, what services are included, and ultimately what choices are available to your family.
Your Childcare. Your Choice. Your Voice.
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Learn About Childcare Policy
Understand
You shouldn’t have to be a policy expert to understand your childcare.
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system has changed how childcare is funded across Canada. These decisions can affect fees, available spaces, funding, waitlists and the types of childcare families can access.
We provide simple, parent-friendly information to help you understand what is happening and what it means for your family.
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Choose
You shouldn’t have to be a policy expert to understand your childcare.
Families need different things. Full-time care may work for one family, while another needs part-time care, preschool, extended hours, home-based care or a more flexible schedule.
We believe families should have access to quality childcare that works for their children, schedules and circumstances.
Our parent resources can help you understand your options, what questions to ask a childcare provider, and how government funding may affect the choices available to you.
Work through your family’s priorities, including hours, location, budget, your child’s age and individual support needs, to help compare your options.
Your Family’s Childcare Needs
Understand the questions to ask about parent fees, government funding, included services, additional costs, deposits, closures and withdrawal terms before you register.
Understanding Your Childcare Fees
Know what to ask and what to look for when visiting a childcare program, including daily routines, relationships, safety, communication and support for your child.
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Choosing childcare involves more than finding an available space. These free resources will help you prepare for visits, understand fees and policies, and identify what your child and family need.
What should families ask?
This example illustrates how government funding can reduce a parent’s payment. It does not represent a current fee, funding rate or funding formula in any province or territory. Actual arrangements vary.
$300 parent
$700 government funding
$1,000 monthly program fee = $700 government funding + $300 parent payment
Illustrative example only
Before registering, ask your provider to explain the program’s full fee, the government funding reflected in your payment, what is included and any permitted additional charges. Ask whether attendance, registered hours, your child’s age or other eligibility requirements could affect your fees.
Changes to funding, eligibility or program participation may affect what families pay, subject to the rules and notice requirements that apply. Review your parent agreement and ask how the program will communicate any changes.
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, often called CWELCC, helps reduce parent fees through funding agreements between the federal government and provinces and territories. Each jurisdiction has its own agreement and approach. Quebec has an asymmetrical agreement supporting its own childcare system.
A reduced parent fee is not the full cost of providing childcare.
Funding arrangements differ across Canada. The fee your family pays can depend on where you live, your child’s age, the type of care, your schedule and whether the program participates in the applicable funding arrangement. Additional financial assistance may have separate eligibility requirements.
Fees & funding
Visit Official Site
Visit Official Site
Every province and territory is shown open. Each button links out to that government’s official childcare information page.
Visit Official Site
Explore childcare options, universal childcare information and subsidy support. Confirm your program’s fees and whether additional assistance is available for your family.
Yukon
Visit Official Site
Visit Official Site
Learn about affordable childcare at participating licensed programs and additional assistance that may be available to eligible families. Check availability and the requirements that apply to your child.
Nunavut
Explore early learning and childcare information, including how to find licensed programs and learn about available support. Confirm fees and funding participation directly with your provider.
Northwest Territories
Find information about childcare options, fee reductions and provincial updates. Confirm which arrangements apply to your child’s age and chosen program.
Saskatchewan
Visit Official Site
Visit Official Site
Quebec operates its own childcare system. Review the differences between subsidized and non-subsidized childcare, reduced-contribution eligibility and financial support for childcare costs.
Quebec
Explore early childhood programs, the childcare registry and subsidy information. Compare program options and review the financial assistance available to eligible families.
Prince Edward Island
Learn how to find childcare and access information about CWELCC and help with childcare costs. Confirm whether your chosen provider participates and contact your local service manager about subsidy eligibility.
Ontario
Visit Official Site
Visit Official Site
Find childcare services and information about fee assistance, inclusion support and program quality. Review the subsidy information to see whether your family may qualify.
Nova Scotia
Find provincial resources about regulated childcare, childcare programs and financial support. Ask your provider which funding arrangements apply to your space.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Visit Official Site
Explore childcare services, designated facilities, the parent fee grid and financial assistance. The provincial information page also provides access to the Parent Portal and childcare search tools.
New Brunswick
Visit Official Site
Visit Official Site
Learn about licensed childcare, parent fees and the Child Care Subsidy Program. Confirm the fees and support available for the facility you are considering.
Manitoba
Find information about childcare options, fee reductions and financial support through ChildCareBC. Check which programs your provider participates in and whether your family can apply for additional assistance.
British Columbia
Visit Official Site
Explore childcare options and provincial information about parent fees, affordability funding and financial assistance. Confirm which supports apply to your child’s age and program.
Alberta
Childcare funding and eligibility are different across Canada. Select your province or territory below to find official information about childcare options, fees and available support. Confirm the requirements that apply to your family with your provider and the relevant government program.
Where you live matters
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Understanding childcare policy is easier when we connect it to the experiences of families and the people providing care.
Watch ACE conversations, parent town halls and updates exploring childcare access, affordability, quality and the decisions affecting families across Canada.
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Your experience matters.
Are you struggling to find a space? Sitting on a waitlist? Unable to afford the care that works for your family? Have you found a great childcare program that you want to protect?
Parents need to be part of the conversation about the future of childcare in Canada.
ACE provides simple tools to help you share your experience, contact your elected representatives and participate in childcare consultations and advocacy.
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Because affordable childcare only works when families can actually access the care they need.
Parents and childcare operators often experience different sides of the same challenges. ACE believes better childcare policy happens when families and operators work together and governments hear directly from the people who use and deliver childcare every day.
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