Canada’s auditor general is set to evaluate the effectiveness of the federal child care program, amid concerns from providers about its impact and ability to meet its goals.
Audit of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program (CWELCC) is underway, with Auditor General Karen Hogan considering involving provincial auditors general in the investigation. This was revealed in a letter dated July 18, addressed to the Association of Day Care Operators of Ontario (ADCO).
The ADCO had requested a review of the federal program to assess its sustainability for taxpayers, provincial governments, and child care licensees.
In a letter dated May 22, Andrea Hannen, executive director of the ADCO, expressed concerns that the program has not lived up to its promise and may be negatively impacting Canada’s licensed child care sector.
This request was supported by other national and provincial child care operators, including the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators, the Alberta Association of Childcare Entrepreneurs, and the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools.
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Nevertheless, the program has faced criticism from child care providers who argue that government funding is insufficient to cover operational costs. YMCA Ontario, a major provider of child care spots in the province, highlighted that funding shortfalls could lead to program closures instead of expansions.
Aside from funding challenges, child care providers in Canada are grappling with labor shortages that have emerged since the pandemic. This workforce crisis has forced child care programs to close, restrict enrollment, or adjust operating hours due to difficulties in retaining and recruiting staff.
Ms. Hannen has tasked the auditor general with determining whether licensed child care spaces have increased or decreased due to the federal program, and if the government has plans to address staffing shortages hindering centers from operating at full capacity.
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