Quebec childcare model boosts maternal earnings and tax revenue

Research into Quebec’s long-standing subsidized daycare program indicates that the $5-a-day model provides significant long-term economic benefits. A study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research suggests the program bolsters women’s lifetime earnings and increases labor force participation by 7 to 12 percentage points for women in their 30s to 50s. The increased tax revenue from higher maternal incomes helps the program become self-financing over time.

Across Canada, the implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program shows varying results in fee reductions. While several jurisdictions, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, have committed to $10-a-day fees, many cities still report higher costs. In 2026, infant fees in British Columbia range from $28 to $52 per day, while Ontario cities average $22 per day. Quebec remains an outlier with a set daily fee of $9.65.