Child Care Subsidy
Child Care Subsidy
Questions about subsidy and child care benefits in Canada? There are several government funding options that could help you with the costs of daycare. Here at BrightPath, our team is always available to help with the complexity of government support.
Child Care Subsidy in Ontario
Eligible Regions
We accept subsidies in the following Ontario regions and are prohibited from accepting subsidies in other areas: Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Simcoe, Waterloo, Windsor, and York.
There are a variety of different government-provided funds available to assist families with the cost of child care in Ontario.
1. Ontario Child Care Fee Subsidy
Families can apply for the Ontario child care fee subsidy. The cost of this program is shared by the Ontario government, municipal governments and First Nations communities.
Eligibility
Families can apply if:
- Your child is under 13 years old (or up to 18 years old if your child has special needs and meets other criteria*)
- Your child is enrolled in a licensed child care program
Funding
The amount you pay for child care depends on your family's adjusted net income.
To calculate your net income:
- Take your net income amount on line 236 of the Canada Revenue Agency personal income tax form
Then subtract:
- Any federal Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) payments (the UCCB is not considered in determining a family's child care fee subsidy)
How to Apply
The Ministry of Education provides funding for fee subsidies. To apply for the child care subsidy or to get more information about this program, visit your municipal government website or contact your local:
- Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs)/District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs)
- Local band office administrator (for First Nations)
2. Ontario Child Benefit
The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) helps low-to-moderate income families – whether they are working or not – to provide for their children.
Eligibility
Depending on your family income, you may qualify for the OCB, if you:
- Are the primary caregiver of a child under 18
- Are a resident of Ontario
- Have filed and had assessed your previous year's income tax return, and so has your spouse or common-law partner, and
- Have registered your child for the federal Canada Child Tax Benefit
How to Apply
There is no application required for the OCB.
Learn more about the OCB.
3. ON Canada Child Benefit
The ON Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment. It helps families pay for the costs of raising children under the age of 18.
Child Care Subsidy in Alberta
At BrightPath, we are committed to providing affordable, high-quality early learning and child care at all our Alberta locations. With the upcoming changes to child care funding in Alberta, families can now benefit from a universal monthly fee structure for daycare and family day home programs.
New Child Care Fee Structure (Effective April 1, 2025)
- $326.25 per month ($15/day) for full-time care
- $230 per month for part-time care
For children enrolled in licensed preschool programs, subsidy will no longer be available. Instead, families will receive a monthly fee reduction of up to $100 off the program’s stated tuition.
Subsidy for Out-of-School Care (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
There are no changes to the subsidy for children in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who attend licensed out-of-school care programs (before and after school care). Families can continue to apply for and receive this subsidy as usual.
Who is Eligible?
- Families with children up to kindergarten age attending licensed daycare or family day home programs will automatically receive the flat monthly fee structure. No subsidy application is required.
- Families with children enrolled in a licensed preschool program will receive an automatic monthly reduction of up to $100 on their fees.
- Families with children in Kindergarten through Grade 6 attending a licensed out-of-school care program can still apply for a subsidy based on household income.
How to Apply for Out-of-School Care Subsidy (K-Grade 6)
- Check Eligibility – Parents with children in Kindergarten through Grade 6 attending licensed before- and after-school care may qualify for a subsidy.
- Apply Online – Complete the Child Care Subsidy application through your MyAlberta Digital ID (MADI) account.
- Provide Supporting Documents – Submit any required information to complete the application.
Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreement in Alberta
As part of the $3.8 billion Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Alberta is committed to making child care more affordable for families. The goal is to ensure families can access high-quality, licensed early learning programs at lower costs.
Starting April 1, 2025:
- Full-time daycare & family day home care: $326.25/month
- Part-time daycare & family day home care: $230/month
- Preschool programs: Up to $100 monthly fee reduction (no subsidy required)
- Out-of-school care (K-Grade 6): Subsidy remains available for before- and after-school programs
Child Care Subsidy in British Columbia
We accept subsidies at all our British Columbia BrightPath locations.
1. Affordable Child Care Act
Eligibility
- A parent or guardian must be:
- A resident of B.C. (you must have a current B.C. address)
- A Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection
- Families must provide one of the following reasons for requiring child care:
- Working or self-employed
- Attending school
- Participating in an employment program
- Looking for work (only one parent or guardian)
- Living with a medical condition that interferes with your ability to care for your child
- Your child is attending licensed preschool
- You have been referred by a Ministry of Children and Family Development or Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker.
- Generally speaking, families that earn up to $111,000 may qualify for funding. Families that earn more than $111,000, but have considerable deductions for family size or children who have special needs, can also apply.
- Find out more about sharing your income information with the Ministry of Children and Family Development
- A formula is used to calculate whether a family qualifies for a funding amount based on their annual income and deductions, or adjustments. This step is called income testing.
- Families may be exempt from income testing if they are caring for someone else’s child under a Ministry of Children and Family Development placement.
- Apply for funding before the end of the month in which you need child care. For example, if you would like to receive funding for child care starting September 1, you need to apply by September 30.
- Most types of child care are eligible. Child care by a family member who lives with you, licensed occasional care and recreational care are not eligible for funding.
How to Apply
Families need to renew their applications every year.
2. British Columbia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
Funding:
BC and Canada agree on the goal of $10 per day child care and will work together towards achieving an average parent fee of $10 per day for all regulated child care spaces for children age 0 to 5 by the end of the 5-year agreement. By December 2022, British Columbia will create an immediate impact for families by increasing $10 per day spaces to 12,500, and reducing average fees for BC parents by 50%, for a combined impact of $21 per day.
More information about the British Columbia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
