Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System Expansion Plan

The Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care System aims to make child care more accessible and affordable, and to increase the number of spaces for families.

The Province of Ontario has committed to the creation of 86,000 new licensed child care spaces. Of those, about 53,000 spaces still need to be created by 2026.

Niagara Region has been given 4,067 licensed child care spaces that we must create by 2026. Over the next four years, we will partner with community service providers to grow the number of licensed child care spaces in Niagara.

Annual targets for new child care spaces

Annual targets may be updated during the expansion. See details on the multi-year space creation targets.

Access and Inclusion Framework

The expansion of child care spaces is rooted in Ontario's Access and Inclusion Framework. This framework supports increased child care for:

• Children of low-income families
• Vulnerable children
• Children from diverse communities
• Children with special needs
• Francophone children
• Indigenous children