September 2, 2026
Manitoba Government Makes Child Care Free for 4,100 Children
– – –Child-Care Subsidy Program Will Save Families Between $520 and $2,600 Per Child Annually: Schmidt
The Manitoba government is eliminating child-care fees for 4,100 children from 3,000 eligible low-income families through changes to the Child-Care Subsidy Program, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt and Ginette Lavack, parliamentary secretary to the federal Minister of Indigenous Services and member of Parliament for St. Boniface-St. Vital, on behalf of federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth Anna Gainey, announced today.
“Early childhood learning plays a critical role in supporting children, families and communities across Manitoba,” said Schmidt. “Our government wants to support the single mom or dad juggling their job, caring for their children and all of the other responsibilities they have every day. By removing these fees, we are supporting parents and caregivers while their kids receive high-quality child care.”
The Child-Care Subsidy Program provides financial support to eligible families to help with the cost of care for children aged 12 weeks to 12 years. Eligibility is based on:
- income,
- number and age of children,
- number of days required for care, and
- reason for care.
All families under the program currently contribute toward a fixed or non-subsidized portion of their parent fees. Depending on their eligibility, the program provides financial assistance covering a part or all of the remaining balance. Starting this month, changes to the program will eliminate all parent fees for eligible families, resulting in a range of savings from approximately $520 up to $2,600 per child per year during regular periods of child care.
“Affordable, quality child care makes a real difference for Manitoba families,” said Lavack. “By working together with the Manitoba government, we’re helping parents manage the cost of raising a family, giving them greater flexibility to work or pursue opportunities, and making sure children have the strong start they deserve.”
“This is an important step forward in reducing family and child poverty, and in helping low-income families during the affordability crisis,” said Molly McCracken, director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. “Congratulations to the Manitoba government for this meaningful advance in building a more inclusive, universal child-care system.”
“We want families to know that we have their backs,” said Schmidt. “Our government is continuing to invest in child-care spaces, infrastructure, workforce and curriculum with the goal of building a child-care system that works for Manitobans.”
The investment also supports the goals of Pathways Forward: Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which prioritizes groups at vulnerable transition points, including babies and children up to five years old, beginning in the prenatal period. To read the full strategy, visit www.gov.mb.ca/povertyreduction/pubs/poverty-reduction-strategy-2026.pdf.
For more information on the Child-Care Subsidy Program and to submit an application, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare/families/childcare_subsidies.html.
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