Written By David Gomez
MIDDLESEX - Middlesex County has added nearly 1,000 licensed child care spaces over the past five years, but demand for care continues to outpace availability, particularly for infants, according to an update presented to county council on July 14.
Joe Winser, Acting Director of Human Services and Children’s Services, said the department has undergone significant change since the introduction of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program. While the initiative has made licensed child care more affordable for many families, it has also required new administrative processes and ongoing adaptation.
“The last few years have been a time of transition and growth for the Human Services Children Services Department,” Winser told council.
He noted that the department’s child care budget has grown from approximately $5.4 million in 2021 to more than $23.5 million in 2026, with most of the increase supported through provincial funding. During that time, Middlesex County has expanded licensed child care capacity by 979 spaces, including a 92% increase in infant, toddler and preschool spaces and a 22% increase in school-age programs.
Despite that growth, access remains an issue. Winser said the county currently has 1,460 children on its wait list, with the greatest demand for infant care, followed by toddler and preschool spaces. He added that the number of families receiving child care fee subsidies has also risen by 15% this year.
“Recruitment and retention continue to be one of our largest challenges across the county, particularly in the school-age before and after care programs,” he said.
County staff continue working with licensed operators and community partners to create additional spaces where possible. Updated Master Funding Agreements have also been prepared to reflect current provincial requirements and position operators for future funding opportunities.
Winser noted that the existing federal-provincial agreement supporting the CWELCC program is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, with negotiations currently underway on what comes next.
The update also highlighted progress under the joint London-Middlesex Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan, which focuses on accessibility, inclusion, quality, collaboration and system coordination. Winser closed his presentation by recognizing members of the Children’s Services team for helping guide the county through what he described as a period of “enormous change,” while strengthening the local child care system.
