Childcare Benefits Program
Help paying for care
Most reduced fees under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program are applied automatically at participating daycares. Extra help for lower-income families (fee subsidies) is a separate application, and it works differently in every province.
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC)
CWELCC is the federal-provincial-territorial agreement to lower parent fees at participating licensed centres, often described as an average of about $10 a day for children under 6. Quebec has its own reduced-contribution system instead of the same fee schedule.
How the rules work for families
- Reduced CWELCC fees are set by the province or territory and applied at participating licensed centres — not by KidEase.
- You usually do not file a separate CWELCC application. If the centre is in the program, the lower parent fee is already on their invoice.
- Not every licensed centre is in CWELCC. KidEase will not guess. A $10-a-day badge should only appear when the centre or the province confirms it.
- Income-tested fee subsidies are a different program. Eligible families can stack subsidy on top of the reduced fee. Apply on your province's official site (cards below).
- Ages, hours, and space types covered by the reduced fee vary by jurisdiction. Confirm infant vs preschool coverage with the centre.
Alberta
Child Care Subsidy (for school-age) + Affordability Grant / $15-a-day fees for younger children.
Apply on the official siteBritish Columbia
Affordable Child Care Benefit — apply through My Family Services.
Apply on the official siteCanada Child Benefit
Federal monthly payment for eligible families.
Apply on the official siteManitoba
Child Care Subsidy for eligible families using licensed care.
Apply on the official siteNew Brunswick
Parent Subsidy Program and Childcare Assistance Program for eligible families.
Apply on the official siteNewfoundland and Labrador
$10-a-day regulated child care + Child Care Subsidy Program.
Apply on the official siteNorthwest Territories
Child Care Fee Reduction Subsidy (average $10-a-day) + possible Income Assistance support.
Apply on the official siteNova Scotia
Reduced parent fees + Nova Scotia Child Care Subsidy Program for eligible families.
Apply on the official siteNunavut
$10-a-day regulated child care + Daycare Subsidy for eligible families.
Apply on the official siteOntario
Fee subsidy is managed locally. Find your CMSM or DSSAB.
Apply on the official sitePrince Edward Island
$10-a-day regulated child care + Child Care Subsidy Program.
Apply on the official siteQuebec
Reduced contribution spaces and the childcare tax credit through Revenu Québec.
Apply on the official siteSaskatchewan
$10-a-day regulated child care for children under 6. Low-income families may also access support through the Saskatchewan Employment Incentive.
Apply on the official siteYukon
Universal child care program (average $10-a-day) + Child Care Subsidy.
Apply on the official site
KidEase does not process these applications. Official government sites open in a new tab.