Question Period Note: Release of the 2025 Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA): Children aged 6 to 12

Release of the 2025 Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA): Children aged 6 to 12 . In 2025, more than 1 million children in Canada aged 6 to 12 used child care, compared to 1.27 million children aged 0 to 5. This represents 35% of children aged 6 to 12 compared to 58% of children aged 0 to 5.

In 2025, 30% of school aged children reported difficulty finding child care compared to 50% of children aged 0 to 5.

Among school aged children using child care arrangements, 52% reported their main arrangement was a before/after school care program (up from 49% in 2022) and 38% reported using care by a relative other than a parent or guardian (same as in 2022).

The Government of Canada welcomes the latest findings of the 2025 Survey of Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements, a key source for reliable and high-quality data on child care in Canada.

The survey provides important information about arrangements, usage and demand for child care in Canada, in addition to data on parental needs and child care preferences.

The federal government will continue to work with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to help ensure the success of the Canada-wide system.

IF PRESSED ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 12

Before- and after-school care (BASC) is primarily a provincial and territorial responsibility, with the exception of BASC for First Nations residing on reserves.

Current Canada-wide ELCC Agreements with provinces and territories primarily fund ELCC programs and services for children aged 0 to 5.

On March 12, 2026, Statistics Canada released data from the latest cycle of the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA), focused on children aged 6 to 12, and which was funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

SELCCA is a national cross-sectional survey that asks parents of young children about the types of child care arrangements used and the associated costs, difficulties faced when looking for child care, and reasons for not using any child care. The survey helps address knowledge gaps related to early learning and child care, providing evidence to inform broader efforts to improve access to affordable, high-quality and inclusive ELCC.

In 2025, the target population for the SELCCA was expanded from children aged 0 to 5 to children aged 0 to 12 in the provinces; the survey continues to focus on children aged 0 to 5 in the territories. Content modifications were also implemented in 2025 to integrate content related to before- and after-school care.

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