Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement supports a high-quality, affordable, accessible and inclusive licensed child care system. CWELCC will reduce the cost of child care to an average of $10 per day by 2025/26 and improve access and quality across Ontario’s child care and early years sector. 

As part of the implementation of CWELCC the Region of Waterloo will add 4,136 new licensed child care spaces for children aged 0-5 years by 2026. New CWELCC spaces will be located in priority neighbourhoods and support families who need affordable child care the most, including families that are experiencing low income or are underserved in our licensed child care system. 

OneList Waterloo Region is where families can apply online for all licensed care in Waterloo Region, including programs participating in CWELCC. You can find a CWELCC-participating program by using the filter in OneList. When new CWELCC programs become available, they will be added to OneList.

If you have a child under the age of six who is currently enrolled in a CWELCC program, as of January 1, 2025, your fees will be capped at $22.00/day. For child care programs with daily fees currently less than $22.00/day, fees will stay frozen at the rate as of December 31, 2024. No application is needed for this reduction.

Not all licensed child care programs are participating in CWELCC. If a licensed child care program is not part of the CWELCC program, families will continue to pay the full cost of child care services as determined by the child care program. Camps and recreation programs serving children 6 to 12 years of age are ineligible to participate in CWELCC.

For child care operators that are currently enrolled in CWELCC in Waterloo Region, detailed information regarding current funding and policies is available on the Children’s Services Operator Portal. Please contact CHSadmin@regionofwaterloo.ca if you have difficulty accessing the Portal or have any questions. 

As the Service System Manager, Region of Waterloo Children’s Services is responsible for implementing an application and approval process to determine which new licensed child care spaces will be eligible for CWELCC participation.

Region of Waterloo has 4,136 new CWELCC licensed child care spaces to create by 2026. Through a directed growth approach, approved by Region of Waterloo Council (CSD-CHS-23-001, CSD-CHS-23-002) new affordable child care spaces will be created in communities that need them most. Children’s Services has identified thirteen Priority Areas for new CWELCC community-based spaces. These areas were selected because they have low access to licensed child care spaces and a high proportion of low-income families. The Priority Areas are ranked by how many additional CWELCC spaces are needed for children ages 0 to 4 years old.

As a part of the CWELCC agreement, Waterloo Region is required to maintain a ratio of 90% not-for-profit spaces to 10% for profit spaces.

The 2025-2026 CWELCC Enrollment Application is now available for non-profit organizations planning to open new centre based licensed infant, toddler and preschool spaces in Waterloo Region. To request an application, please fill out the form. Applications are due May 26, 2025.

If you are an existing child care operator considering a license revision, please contact Children’s Services at CHSadmin@regionofwaterloo.ca when you are in the early stages of planning to discuss eligibility for CWELCC. Some license revisions may require an application through the 2025-2026 CWELCC Enrollment process.

Information Sessions

Two information sessions will be held in May to answer questions and provide information on how to complete the application. Click on the links below to register.

• May 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. - Registration link
• May 16, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. - Registration link