Item - 2025.EC24.1
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 12 and 13, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Economic and Community Development Committee on October 28, 2025 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025.
EC24.1 - Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Expansion - Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Caution: Motions are shown below. Any motions should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.
Committee Recommendations
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the provincial and federal governments to provide additional and sustained capital and operating funding to support progress towards Toronto's Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care expansion targets.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services to continue to prioritize future capital investments and the necessary operating funding from the provincial or federal government to support the expansion of child care services in high-inequity neighbourhoods, in alignment with legislation and provincial guidelines.
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services, in collaboration with community partners, to develop and implement new strategies aimed at building local capacity and interest among not-for-profit organizations to deliver child care in high-inequity neighbourhoods, including through education, support, in-person engagement and targeted outreach.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-259387.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/comm/communicationfile-197349.pdf
(October 28, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (EC.New)
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Petr Varmuza (EC.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/comm/communicationfile-197552.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services to identify areas of inequity and guide future planning for child care growth and expansion by applying an additional neighbourhood-level analysis to the Directed Growth Plan.
That City Council amend Economic and Community Development Committee Recommendation 3 by adding the words “and report back in July 2026 as part of the progress update on complimentary actions in Toronto's Early Years and Child Care Service Plan 2025-2030" at the end, so that it now reads as follows:
3. City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, in collaboration with community partners, to develop and implement new strategies aimed at building local capacity and interest among not-for-profit organizations to deliver child care in high-inequity neighbourhoods, including through education, support, in-person engagement and targeted outreach, and report back in July 2026 as part of the progress update on complimentary actions in Toronto's Early Years and Child Care Service Plan 2025-2030.
That:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services to conduct an analysis of barriers to expanding and accessing licensed childcare in high-priority wards identified in the Directed Growth Plan, and share with affected Ward Councillors in the second quarter of 2026.
EC24.1 - Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Expansion - Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the provincial and federal governments to provide additional and sustained capital and operating funding to support progress towards Toronto's Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care expansion targets.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services to continue to prioritize future capital investments and the necessary operating funding from the provincial or federal government to support the expansion of child care services in high-inequity neighbourhoods, in alignment with legislation and provincial guidelines.
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services, in collaboration with community partners, to develop and implement new strategies aimed at building local capacity and interest among not-for-profit organizations to deliver child care in high-inequity neighbourhoods, including through education, support, in-person engagement and targeted outreach.
Origin
Summary
This report provides an update on expansion of Toronto’s licensed child care system, including progress on the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system locally; the impact of the cost-based funding formula; and capital expansion planning and progress since the introduction of the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-259387.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/comm/communicationfile-197349.pdf
(October 28, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (EC.New)
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Petr Varmuza (EC.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ec/comm/communicationfile-197552.pdf
Motions
That:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services to continue to prioritize future capital investments and the necessary operating funding from the provincial or federal government to support the expansion of child care services in high-inequity neighbourhoods, in alignment with legislation and provincial guidelines.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Children’s Services, in collaboration with community partners, to develop and implement new strategies aimed at building local capacity and interest among not-for-profit organizations to deliver child care in high-inequity neighbourhoods, including through education, support, in-person engagement and targeted outreach.