$10 a Day Child Care
Parents of children who are enrolled in infant, nursery and preschool programs pay $10 a day per child for regular hours of care (4 to 10 hours) at licensed child care facilities that receive operating grants. For school-age children attending for three periods per day (before school, lunch and after school), parent fees are also $10 a day.
Beginning December 8, 2024, the province has also reduced parent fees for school-age child care on non-school days, including in-service days and school holidays, to $10 a day.
The Manitoba government is committed to improving access to high-quality, inclusive child care for Manitobans. Province-wide average $10 a day child care, funded by the federal and provincial governments, helps make life more affordable for families.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why are parents’ child care fees being reduced?
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are committed to improving access to high-quality, inclusive child care for Manitobans to help make life more affordable for families.
Under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Manitoba committed to reaching an average of $10 per day for parent fees by 2026 for children under the age of seven. The province is investing additional resources to extend affordable child care fees for children up to 12 years of age.
- Are all child care facilities required to reduce parent fees?
Licensed, non-profit centres (including infant, preschool, nursery, and school age programs) and child care homes that receive provincial operating grant funding (funded facilities) are required to comply with the regulated maximum parent fees.
Licensed centres and child care homes that do not receive provincial operating grant funding (unfunded facilities) are not required to follow the regulated maximum daily fees for non-subsidized families; however, they cannot charge subsidized families more than the maximum daily fees.
Do families need to apply to be eligible for the new fees?
There is no application process for families. Families with children enrolled at licensed and funded child care facilities are eligible for the affordable rates and do not need to apply for them.
- Are all parent fees reduced to $10 per day?
No. In some cases, the fees will be lower or higher than $10 per day depending upon the type of care. For example, part-time infant/preschool care for less than four hours per day, including morning or afternoon nursery school sessions will be less than $10 per day. In cases where extended child care over 10 hours is required by families, fees will be higher than $10 per day.
- How does the new parent fees affect families who receive child care subsidy?
The Child Care Subsidy Program continues to provide financial support for eligible families to ensure that cost is not a barrier to quality early learning child care and programming.
- How do I know if the new parent fees apply to my child care facility?
Over 1,000 licensed child care facilities across the province are required to comply with the regulated maximum parent fees of $10 a day. Learn more about what fees your child care facility is allowed to charge, at: Child Care Fees.
For a listing of licensed child care facilities visit Manitoba Child Care Search at www.manitoba.ca/childcaresearch.
