Overview of the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Mark Carney, as leader of the Liberal Party, promised to protect and strengthen child care in Canada. This commitment emphasized maintaining and expanding the existing $10-a-day child care program, which was initially introduced under the previous Trudeau government. The promise highlighted the disproportionate burden of child care on women and aimed to support their return to the workforce, thereby enhancing career opportunities and financial security for families.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office in May 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has reaffirmed its commitment to the national child care system. The administration has continued funding agreements with provinces and territories to sustain the $10-a-day program, building on deals signed earlier in the year that extended federal support until 2031. This includes allocating billions in funding to increase child care spaces and maintain affordability. For instance, the government has pledged to address accessibility issues by supporting the creation of additional spots, particularly in underserved areas.

In terms of legislation, no new major bills have been passed specifically on child care as of August 2025, but the government has integrated child care priorities into broader economic and affordability agendas. Existing agreements under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program have been upheld, with base funding increases planned starting in 2027-28. The Carney administration has also responded to advocacy by engaging with organizations like Child Care Now, promising urgent action to fulfill platform commitments.

Progress on Key Outcomes

The promise specifically points to enabling women to return to the workforce sooner through affordable child care, which would build careers and provide financial security. Data from recent reports indicate that the program has already reduced fees significantly in participating provinces, allowing more families, particularly women, to re-enter the job market. However, challenges persist: a July 2025 report noted that half of the provinces are unlikely to meet the 2026 target for $10-a-day access nationwide, potentially hindering full realization of these outcomes.

To date, the government has protected the program by maintaining funding and rejecting calls to scale it back, but strengthening efforts are in progress with plans for expansion. No actions have been taken that would indicate the promise is broken, but delays in provincial implementation pose a risk of being broken if not addressed.

Challenges and Future Requirements

For this promise to be considered kept, the government must ensure nationwide implementation of affordable child care by the 2026 deadline, including increasing spaces, improving quality, and making it inclusive for all families. This would require negotiating stronger bilateral agreements with provinces, boosting federal funding beyond current levels, and passing supportive legislation if needed to enforce standards.

The promise would be at risk of being broken if federal funding is reduced, provincial partnerships falter, or economic pressures lead to program cuts. If no further advancements occur by the end of 2025, it could shift to not started status, though current engagements suggest ongoing efforts.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.