The Importance of Affordable Childcare

Affordable child care is often discussed as a support for families. But new research from Ontario is a useful reminder that investing in children and families also strengthens our communities and our economy.

A new report, The Economic Impact of Affordable Child Care in Ontario, by economist Dr. Jim Stanford, estimates that Ontario’s GDP was $13.6 billion higher in 2024 than it would have been without the expansion of affordable child care that began in 2019.

That is a significant number. But at Helix, we think the bigger story is what sits behind it.

When families have support, everyone benefits

Affordable, accessible child care gives parents and caregivers more choices about work, education and family life. It can reduce financial pressures on families while creating opportunities for children to learn, play and build relationships during some of the most important years of their development.

The economic findings reinforce something that should be central to public policy: supporting children is not simply a cost. It is an investment.

This matters particularly at a time when many families are struggling with the cost of living and when child poverty remains stubbornly high in Canada. Policies that make everyday necessities more affordable can help create the conditions children need to thrive.

But affordability is only part of the picture

Another recent global analysis of early childhood care and education raises an important caution. Where governments have not adequately supported child care systems, private providers have increasingly filled the gap. The analysis found that educators working in private settings were more likely to experience lower wages, temporary contracts and poorer working conditions.

That matters for children, too.

A strong child care system depends on a stable, skilled and well-supported workforce. Expanding access without paying attention to the quality and sustainability of the system risks solving one problem while creating another.

Building systems that work for children

At Helix, we believe all young people should have the opportunity to realize their rights to a happy, healthy childhood. That means looking beyond individual programs and asking how the systems surrounding children and families can better support them.

Affordable child care offers a powerful example. When governments invest in the infrastructure children and families rely on, the benefits extend far beyond the individual child care space. Families have more options. Educators have the potential for more stable careers. Communities become stronger. And, as this new research demonstrates, the broader economy benefits too.

The lesson is a simple one: investments in children are investments in our collective future.