Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care

Ontario has joined the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system to make child care more affordable for families with children under six. 

On this page

• About the program
• Eligibility
• Find licensed child care

About the program 

As of January 1, 2025, families in CWELCC programs pay up to $22 per day. If your licensed child care provider is part of the CWELCC program, your fees are automatically reduced. To check if your provider participates, ask them directly or visit the Haldimand Norfolk OneList.  

Eligibility 

There is no separate application for the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) fee reduction. Qualifying for the CWELCC fee reduction is based on the program and your child's age. 

Not all licensed child care programs participate in the CWELCC system. When you apply for licensed child care, choose service providers that participate in the CWELCC system to receive the reduced fee of $22 per day. Or contact your current child care service provider to confirm if you will pay the reduced fee of $22 per day. 

Eligible programs 

Your child must be enrolled in a licensed child care program that participates in the CWELCC system. Camps and recreation programs are not eligible for the CWELCC system. 

Eligible ages 

Your child must be under 6 years old to qualify.  

• If your child turns six during the year, they remain eligible until the end of the month they turn six. For example, if your child’s birthday is November 10, they qualify until November 30. 
• If your child turns six between January 1 and June 30 while in a CWELCC program (such as preschool, extended day, licensed family age group, kindergarten, or home child care), they can keep the reduced fee until June 30 of that year. 

For families who receive child care fee subsidies 

Fee subsidies are financial aid provided by Haldimand and Norfolk Children's Services and are different from CWELCC-funded fee reductions.  

For families in receipt of a fee subsidy, assessed subsidy fees may be reduced up to 50% depending on the number of eligible children in the household and if the child care program is participating in CWELCC. 

• For example, if you are paying $10 per day through the fee subsidy and your child is attending a CWELCC participating day care, your fee would be reduced to $5 per day. 

Learn more and see if you qualify for the fee subsidy program. 

Non-participating providers 

If your child care provider is not part of the CWELCC system, your family will not receive any fee reductions or refunds. The provider will not get CWELCC funding and will continue to set their own fees. 

Find licensed child care  

The Haldimand Norfolk OneList is an online application tool for families/caregivers looking for licensed child care where you can: 

• Apply for licensed care waitlist, including: 
  • Home-based care 
  • Centre-based care 
  • School-age care 
  • Nursery/pre-school care 
• Find the list of providers that accept Fee Subsidy 
• Find the list of CWELCC-participating service providers