N.W.T. government not actually sure they haven’t overpaid childcare providers

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Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-11-02 12:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Affordability, Finance, Governance]

An audit released in October revealed that the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment distributed millions in early learning and child care funding without verifying staff hours, parent fee invoices, or attendance numbers. Operating with an annual budget of roughly $34 million—with approximately 80 per cent (over $27 million) allocated to early childcare funding—the department relied entirely on facility attestations and assumed 100 per cent enrollment for daycares opened after April 1, 2023. Consequently, the government cannot confirm if it overpaid providers or successfully met its commitment to an average daily $10 parent fee. Beginning November 1, the department is requiring licensed childcare facilities to submit receipts, attendance records, closure days, and verifiable documentation for staff wages and expenditures covering the past two years.

Ottawa Commits Additional Funding for Federal Child Care Program in Ontario

Source: Ontario - Ministry of Education
Date: 2026-09-29 14:34:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, National, Education, Social Services, Affordability, Finance]

Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra announced that the federal government has extended additional funding to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, maintaining current average child care fees at $19 a day with maximum caps at $22 per day until June 30, 2027. Between the 2021-22 and 2026-27 fiscal years, Ontario is investing approximately $34.5 billion in child care and early years programs, which includes $12.3 billion dedicated specifically to child care programs, fee subsidies, wage enhancements, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the CARE tax credit. Both governments have committed to ongoing discussions regarding long-term program sustainability beyond June 2027 to ensure continued stability for families and the child care sector.