The province has restored dozens of licensed child care spaces in Bruce County.
A report heading to county council says Ontario has reinstated 84 child care spaces that were cut during a provincial recalibration last year. That brings Bruce County's total Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program (CWELCC) target to 1,736 licensed spaces for children up to age five by the end of 2026.
The province reviewed child care growth targets across Ontario to better match communities that are ready to open new spaces quickly.
In 2025, Bruce County had seen its allocation reduced by 133 as part of an earlier recalibration. However, after updated forecasting data was submitted by municipal service managers across the province, Ontario revised its targets once again to better reflect communities that are well positioned to create new spaces before the end of next year.
"We did advocate for the reinstatement of 73 of the spaces that had been reduced. So now we have received 84 spaces, which is more than we had advocated for," explained Tina Metcalfe, Director of Human Services."But that being said, we will continue to main a pipeline of potential expansion opportunities so that we are well positioned."
Bruce County was one of 22 childcare service managers to receive an increase. The province says the updated targets are designed to maximize the use of available federal and provincial funding while ensuring new licensed spaces can realistically be delivered within the current agreement timeline.
County staff say the added spaces will be allocated through the existing expansion process, with a focus on equitable access, inclusion, and long-term sustainability. Officials add the increase will bring more provincial and federal funding, so there's no impact on the local tax levy.
Bruce County says the expansion aligns with its long-term child care strategy, which emphasizes affordability, accessibility, and inclusivity for families across the region.
