$10 a Day Child Care
Print Version: Extension of $10 a Day Child Care FAQ (PDF)
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 is reducing 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.
(* Pending Passing of Budget 2024)
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.
- 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.
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 being 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.
Effective December 8, 2024, school age fees for in-service days and school holidays will also be reduced to $10 a day.
- How will the new parent fees for school age care on non-school days affect families who receive child care subsidy?
The Child Care Subsidy Program will continue to provide financial support for eligible families to ensure that cost is not a barrier to quality early learning child care and programming.
Manitoba families currently receiving child care subsidy will be reassessed. No families receiving child care subsidy will have their child care costs increased as a result of this change. Some families may no longer require child care subsidy if under the new parent fee rates they will be paying less than they were paying with previously subsidized fees.
- Will families need to reapply for child care subsidy after December 8, 2024?
No. Current subsidy approvals will be automatically reassessed at the new parent fee rates. Families will receive an Approval for Child Care Subsidy Letter through Child Care Online indicating the amount of their family contribution.
- How will families know if their school age child care fees are changing?
Child care facilities are encouraged to communicate with their families about changes to parent fees. Facilities will begin charging new reduced parent fees for school age care on non-school days effective December 8, 2024.
Facilities will continue to invoice families for the amount of fees that are due to the child care facility according to each facility’s regular invoicing and payment schedule.
