Chapter 3 · 3.1 Delivering a boost today
Securing the future of a Canada-wide early learning and child care system
Program spending
$5.42B net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cost line
| Line | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure | 2,370 | 3,046 | – | – | – | 5,416 |
… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.
What the budget says
“Over $70 billion in signed agreements with provinces and territories has been announced since 2021 to keep child care affordable, including more than $39 billion starting in 2026-27.”
Budget 2026, p. 194 (PDF p. 208)
Amounts named in the text
Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.
- $70 billion
- $39 billion starting in 2026-27
- $5.4 billion over two years
- $12 billion
Also in this section
- Providing more help with groceries and everyday essentials$4.67BTax measureHouseholds
- Strengthening support for workers earning low wages$2.06BTax measureHouseholds
- Phasing out of advance payments−$3.08BSavings or revenue
- Making the Canada Caregiver Credit refundable$845MTax measureHouseholds
- Lowering costs for Canadians at the pump$2.87BTax measureHouseholds
- $2 billion investment, retrofitting 1 million homes to save Canadians $1 billion per year$1.34BProgram spendingHouseholdsHousingTrades
- Realignment of existing funding$0MProgram spending