---
title: Public and non-profit provision
url: https://buildingchildcare.ca/public-and-non-profit-provision/
date: 2024-11-14
modified: 2026-03-05
author: Billie Carroll
description: "To protect the transformed child care system and public resources, expansion of publicly funded ELCC must be limited to public and non-profit services."
categories:
  - name: 10-critical-components
    url: https://buildingchildcare.ca/10-critical-components/
---
# Public and non-profit provision

## Public and non-profit provision

To protect the transformed child care system and public resources, expansion of publicly funded early learning and child care (ELCC) must be limited to public and non-profit services.

## Expanding for-profit ELCC provision is a risky business

In [2023](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/ecec-canada/24/08/early-childhood-education-and-care-canada-2023), 29% of child care centre spaces Canada-wide were for-profit, with many families relying on the for-profit sector for child care. The policy solution adopted under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system is to fund existing for-profit services for all ELCC operators in receipt of public operational funding and ensure that new expansion is primarily non-profit or public.

Further for-profit growth would be detrimental to building a universal, equitable, high quality child care system. Evidence shows that for-profit child care compromises staff compensation, quality, and equity, as well as the preservation of regulations and progressive social policy. 

## For-profit child care has been consolidating

For-profit child care owners have been consolidating across provinces, countries, and globally, with large providers – increasingly backed by private equity firms – buying up small for-profit providers. [Evidence](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/occasional-paper-series/21/06/risky-business-child-care-ownership-canada-past-present) shows control of child care by large corporate providers is likely to be inequitable and unaccountable. Canada’s significant new child care funding has created a magnet for large investment firms seeking profitable “assets.” This demonstrably carries potential dangers to Canada’s child care goals. 

As Canada’s aim is to build a publicly funded and managed, accessible, affordable, high quality, and equitable ELCC system, expanding for-profit services is inconsistent with this aim. To achieve and protect Canada’s stated ELCC goals, child care expansion must be primarily public and non-profit.

![The word ](https://buildingchildcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/resources-green.png)

[**Risky business: Child care ownership in Canada past, present and future**](https://childcarecanada.org/publications/occasional-paper-series/21/06/risky-business-child-care-ownership-canada-past-present)  
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, report, Jun 2021. Canada

[**What’s wrong with for-profit child care?**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/21/06/what%E2%80%99s-wrong-profit-child-care)  
Childcarepolicy.net, article, Jun 2021. Canada

[**Acquisitions, mergers and debt: The new language of childcare**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/22/02/acquisitions-mergers-and-debt-new-language-childcare)  
University College London Social Research Institute, report, Jan 2022. Europe

[**The newest threat to the care economy: Private equity**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/04/newest-threat-care-economy-private-equity)  
Reimagining Care/Work Policies, presentation, Apr 2024. Canada

[**Paving the path: Addressing market imbalances to achieve quality and affordable childcare in more places**](https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/24/10/paving-path-addressing-market-imbalances-achieve-quality)  
Mandala, report, Oct 2024. Australia