How do we find childcare and holiday camps?

Canada is cutting daycare fees for children under 6 through federal agreements with each province, sometimes called the $10-a-day plan. Fees have fallen a lot, but places are short, so the hard part is getting a space. Join wait lists early, ideally before you arrive.

Reduced fees by province

Under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreements, money goes to licensed providers that sign up, and they charge parents less. You don’t usually apply. The lower fees apply to every family using a participating program, whatever your income or immigration status.

On a 20-working-day month, Ontario’s cap means no more than C$440. The agreements have been extended: Alberta’s, for example, by one year to 2026–27. Check your province’s current fees before you budget

Getting a place

Demand is far higher than supply in the big cities. The City of Toronto’s advice is to get on the wait list early. In BC, each provider keeps its own wait list, so contact the centres you want directly, and use your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. In Quebec, subsidised services must fill places from the La Place 0-5 list, which is ranked by registration date; waits of a year or more are commonly reported. Register as soon as you have an address, or even before you move.

• Join several lists, and keep your contact details up to date
• Ask how the centre fills places: by date, siblings or age group
• Ask whether the centre takes part in the fee reduction scheme

Licensed or unlicensed?

In Ontario, licensed centres and agency-supervised home child care are inspected and display a decal saying they’re licensed. A licensed home provider can look after up to 6 children under 13. Unlicensed carers aren’t inspected, can’t care for more than 5 children (counting their own under 4, and no more than 3 under 2), and must tell you in writing that they aren’t licensed. Reduced CWELCC fees only apply at enrolled licensed programs. Ontario’s licensed child care search lists licensed options, and you can check for violations.

The Canada Child Benefit

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a monthly tax-free payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For July 2026 to June 2027 it is up to C$8,157 a year for each child under 6 and C$6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17. It starts to fall once adjusted family net income is above C$38,237. You must be resident in Canada for tax and be a citizen, permanent resident or protected person, or have had temporary resident status for at least 18 months in a row. It’s worked out from your last tax return, so file one every year. See tax in Canada.

Before and after school

Ontario school boards must make sure there’s a before- and after-school program at every elementary school with Kindergarten to Grade 6, where there’s enough demand. Programs run every school day, and some run on professional development days and in the holidays. Places fill fast, so register when you enrol at the school. In Alberta, families earning under C$90,000 can get a subsidy for licensed care outside school hours for children in kindergarten to Grade 6.

Summer and holiday camps

Over the long summer break most working parents use day camps. Cities, YMCAs, community centres and private camps all run them. In Toronto, the city’s full-day CampTO Explore was listed from about C$130 a week for 2026, and city camp registration has opened in early February. Book as soon as registration opens.

• In Ontario, look for camps accredited by the Ontario Camps Association, which has over 400 member camps
• Ask about staff training, ratios and the refund policy before you pay
• Keep receipts: see the tax deduction below

For holiday dates see public and school holidays, and for a nanny see hiring a nanny or cleaner.