Canada has made significant progress in the child-care sector, with the federal government’s $10-a-day child-care initiative gaining traction in all provinces. However, despite surpassing many targets, challenges remain in ensuring accessibility for all families. The reduced cost of child care has been beneficial for many, but the increased demand has led to growing wait-lists in most areas across the country. Research from the Atkinson Centre at the University of Toronto shows improvements in enrolment, affordability, funding, workforce compensation, and quality, but there are concerns about staffing shortages hindering further growth.
As part of the report, researchers evaluated each province and territory against a 15-point scale of best practices in child-care delivery. While progress has been made since the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care agreements were reached, there is a need for sustainable infrastructure to support the continued expansion of affordable child care. Staff shortages remain a major roadblock, with some jurisdictions failing to invest in improving working conditions and wages for educators in the sector. Without these investments, the growth of the national child-care system could stall. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a goal of creating 250,000 new child-care spaces by March 2026, with only 100,000 spaces created as of last month.
In Ontario, where $10-a-day child care is expected to be available provincewide by September 2025, parents like Amy Talbot are struggling to find child-care spaces for their children. Talbot, who has been searching for daycare since her daughter was born eight months ago, is on multiple wait-lists and faces challenges in securing a spot for her child before she can return to work. Staff shortages at daycares have further complicated the situation, making it emotionally and physically demanding for parents like Talbot. While some regions have implemented wage grids for early childhood educators, ensuring proper compensation and working conditions for staff is essential for the success of the child-care system.
The report highlights the importance of addressing educator compensation, working conditions, benefits, and pensions to prevent a Canada-wide derailment of the child-care system. Akbari emphasizes that the lack of attention to these factors is leading to shortages in child-care staff, with people choosing not to enter the profession or leaving due to inadequate compensation. Ensuring proper funding for child care, including access for children with special needs, stringent qualifications for caregivers, and accountability measures are crucial for developing a high-quality child-care system. Akbari believes that investing in child care will not only benefit children and working parents but also contribute to the overall success of the economy.
Overall, while Canada has made progress in making child care more affordable and accessible, challenges such as staffing shortages and wait-lists remain significant obstacles to achieving a fully functional and sustainable child-care system. The government’s goal of creating new child-care spaces by 2026 is ambitious, but without addressing issues related to compensation and working conditions for child-care staff, the success of the initiative could be at risk. Ensuring that child care is adequately funded and regulated, with a focus on high-quality services for children, will be crucial in maintaining the positive momentum seen in recent years. Emphasizing the importance of a well-supported child-care system, Akbari advocates for better funding, qualifications, and accountability measures to drive long-term success and benefits for families across the country.
