The Liberal government promised $10-a-day child care within five years nationwide. Come March 31, it will hit that milestone.
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program will fall short of its goal to create nearly 300,000 spaces. The program was a partnership between the federal government and provinces.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report last month saying the program will not meet its targets nationwide. Estimates indicate the provinces have created only 200,000 spaces. For-profit child care centres accounted for the majority of spaces in Ontario. Almost all of those charge more than $ 10 a day. Non-profit centres are most likely to meet the more affordable goal.
YMCA Executive Director Eunice Kirkpatrick confirmed Northumberland County is on track to meet its goals of adding new licensed spaces by the end of 2026, but waitlists remain high. The YMCA is one of the largest providers of childcare in the county.
In this interview, Kirkpatrick will explain what is taking place and what still needs to be done to meet local demand for high-quality, low-cost, and more nonprofit spaces.
The show:
The full interview with bonus material:
Originally aired: February 13, 2026
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