Region of Waterloo gains 411 new child care spaces and more funding

The Ministry of Education allocated 411 new child care spaces under the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement funded by the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo will receive 411 more child care spaces, covered under CWELCC, to be open by the end of 2026. These spaces are in addition to the previous 3,725 spaces already allocated to the Region, bringing the total to 4,136.

In addition to the new spaces, Children’s Services at the Region of Waterloo will also receive $7,902,660 in infrastructure and start-up funding to create these new spaces. CWELCC supports high-quality, affordable and accessible child care, and will reduce the costs to an average of $10 per day by 2026. 

Children’s Services is on track to meet these growth targets across Waterloo Region, addressing the growing demand for child care spaces and creating additional job opportunities in the child care sector.

“Child care is essential to our community, supporting families in the early years of a child’s life,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “These new spaces and funding will provide much needed child care to more families across the region.”

Under the CWELCC Agreement, the Ministry of Education requires Children’s Services at the Region of Waterloo to maintain a ratio of 90 percent non-profit spaces to 10 percent for-profit spaces. This is an increase from 85 percent, and Children’s Services will continue to support community partners through this process.  

The Region will continue working with partners across the community as they open these new spaces and expand access to families.

These updates were presented at the May 6 Community and Health Services Committee along with two recommendations, which will go forward for final consideration by Regional Council on May 23, 2025.

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