Staff shortages driving daycare waitlists in Ontario, experts say

Staff shortages driving daycare waitlists in Ontario, experts say

Ministry of Education says it's working on improving working conditions for early childhood educators

Still on a childcare waitlist? Ontario staffing shortages are making it worse

The Canoe Landing Child Care Centre, located downtown Toronto, has more than 100 people on their waitlist, but they aren't technically full.

They are however, short staffed.

"We have space to accommodate more, but we can't find quality staff to fill those gaps," said Eva Lacson, vice president of child care services at The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) Community Services.

Five years after the federal government's $10-a-day daycare program launched, daycare managers and advocates say staff shortages are a big reason why so many Ontario families are stuck on waitlists.

While the province says it's working on improving working conditions for early childhood educators, many worry the program is at risk as the number of parents waiting for a spot for their child continues to rise.

Lacson says she understands why parents are frustrated when they hear there is no space for their child.

"They're really grasping at straws or not even bothering going back to work because of this," she said, adding that despite TNG daycares offering higher pay than many others, along with benefits and pensions, the organization continues to struggle to hire staff.

"It's a challenge for before and after school programs because the split shifts are not desirable. It's a very long day," she said.

Province short 10K early childhood educators: report

A 2025 report by the Ontario auditor general's office said the province required 10,000 additional early childhood educators by December 2026 in order to support an expansion of the affordable childcare system.

In a statement, the office of Ontario's auditor general says a follow-up audit next year will assess the ministry’s progress in implementing their 11 recommendations, "including our recommendation to adjust or implement workforce strategies as needed to improve recruitment and retention of RECEs," the statement said.

Maja Stefanovska, spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada, said in a statement the federal government is providing more than $3.9 billion to Ontario in 2026-27 to support continued access to high-quality child care, and says employment among early childhood educators and assistants has grown in recent years.

Meanwhile, the province's Ministry of Education said the stability of the the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement requires a significant increase in federal funding.

The statement, attributed to spokesperson Emma Testani said the province launched "a comprehensive Workforce Strategy to improve the recruitment and retention of early childhood educators," which includes higher wages, better working conditions and career development.

The province did not respond to CBC Toronto's request for an update on the number of early childhood educators that have been hired since the 2025 report.

Wages need to be increased: association

Amber Straker, executive director of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario says the province's strategy is not meeting the needs of everyone in the sector. She points to low wages and an increasing cost of living as the driving force behind the shortages.

"What we're recommending is a wage grid that can be put in place for all early childhood educators and for others working in the childcare field," she said, adding the group is calling for a minimum of $35 to $45 per hour.

"We're of course also advocating for health benefits and pensions, and we've seen the impact of this in other provinces."

Tho Nguyen says their dream was to work with children and be a part of their family support system, but ended up quitting during the pandemic when they discovered the realities of the role, which included low pay and no benefits or sick days.

"I really couldn't afford to stay in the sector before I even entered it," they said.

Nguyen, and others who work in the field, believe that implementing further changes and recognizing the value of those who keep the childcare programs running, would put a massive dent towards Ontario's waitlist problem.

"Maybe one day when ECEs [early childhood educators] actually have decent work, decent pay, paid sick days, benefits and pension, then I will find myself in a position where I could enter the field again."

Talia Ricci is a TV, radio and web reporter at CBC Toronto. She enjoys covering offbeat human interest stories and exposing social justice issues. Talia is also an avid traveller and photographer. Her photography has appeared in various publications and exhibits. She lives in Toronto's west end where she enjoys reading and going on long walks to discover the beauty in the city.