Free & Low-Cost Daycare Options in Ontario
Use this guide to mix EarlyON programs, CWELCC centres, and subsidies so your effective daycare cost lands as close to $0 as possible.
EarlyON drop-ins
Free programs for ages 0–6. Attend play-based sessions, parent consults, and community workshops without registration.
Use them for socialization and to maintain routines while waiting for a subsidized daycare space.
Find EarlyON centresCWELCC centres
Participating centres have already cut fees by 50% and will reach $10/day on average. Families of any income benefit automatically.
Combine CWELCC with subsidies to bring fees down to $0–$400/month, depending on your net income.
Read the CWELCC playbookMunicipal subsidies
Sliding-scale funding based on net income (line 23600). Families under ~$90K often qualify for partial or full coverage.
Apply early; waitlists in Toronto, Peel, and York can exceed a year. Keep your file active with monthly check-ins.
Follow the application stepsWhat “free daycare” looks like
EarlyON + CWELCC: Attend free drop-ins during parental leave, then enrol at a $10/day centre when you return to work.
Subsidy + CWELCC: Families with net income under ~$70K often pay $0 after both programs stack.
Employer partnerships: Hospitals and tech campuses sometimes sponsor on-site care. Ask HR whether they hold subsidized seats.
How to stretch your budget
- Split schedules with another family (e.g., Mon/Wed/Fri + Tues/Thurs).
- Use EarlyON for social time and save paid daycare hours for work shifts.
- Confirm tax credits (Child Care Expense Deduction, CCB) in your budget.
- Ask centres about sibling discounts, referral credits, or employer perks.
Plan your next move
Combine these tools to drop your effective daycare cost as low as possible.