Space Creation
Manitoba is committed to improving access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care across the province. Manitoba’s Action Plan under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement provides capital funding for the development and expansion of child care centres to increase access to licensed child care. Under the agreement, Manitoba is targeting the development of 23,000 new full-time child care spaces by 2026, with dedicated grant funding to support the creation of 5,890 new child care spaces through capital projects.
As of February 2025, Manitoba is nearly 44 percent of the way in meeting our shared goal of 23,000 new child care spaces for children under seven, with over 4,300 spaces opened and more than 5,750 committed spaces for a total of over 10,050 new spaces for children ages 0 to 6, with thousands more on the way. Through provincial investment, nearly 4,000 school ages spaces have opened and almost 900 school age spaces have been committed. In total, nearly 8,300 spaces have opened and more than 6,650 spaces committed for a total of almost 15,000 spaces for children twelve and under throughout Manitoba.
Learn more about current programs, projects and financial incentives available to support the creation of new or expanded licensed child care spaces throughout Manitoba:
Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Building Fund – On-going intake
Provides capital grant funding for 60 per cent of total eligible project costs that support the development of community-based child care spaces for children ages 0-12 by creating new or expanding existing non-profit child care centres.
Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit Program – On-going intake
Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit Program – On-going intake Provides a tax credit of $10k per child care space paid over 5 years for private corporations who invest in the creation of new early learning and child care spaces to support their employees and the surrounding community.
Child Care Renovation Expansion Grant
Provides capital funding to existing non-profit child care centres to increase licensed space capacity for infant and pre-school spaces.
Rural Municipalities and Indigenous Governing Bodies Ready-to-Move (RTM) Child Care Initiative
Provides capital grant funding to create new child care centres in partnership with Rural Municipalities and Indigenous Governing Bodies. Leveraging a collaborative approach and modular building results in the construction of a large number of licensed non-profit child care facilities servicing infant and pre-school spaces under expedited timelines and in areas with a demonstrated child care need.
Health and Child Care Infrastructure Project
The Health and Child Care Infrastructure Project provides capital funding to Health Authorities and non-profit child care operators to create new child care centres in health care facilities across the province.
Child Care Centres in New Schools
Manitoba’s Child Care in Schools Policy requires the consideration of new child care spaces as part of the construction of all new schools, or those undergoing a major renovation.
School-Based Child Care Centre Expansion Project
Provides capital grant funding to School Divisions to develop or expand on-site child care programming including infant, preschool and school-age spaces.
Post-Secondary Child Care Expansion Project
Provides capital grant funding to Post-Secondary Institutions to develop or expand on-site child care programming including infant, preschool and school-age spaces as well as construct new Learning Labs to support delivery hands-on and innovative delivery of Early Childhood Education programs.
Child care spaces in Homes
In addition to centres, licensed child care is also available in homes throughout the province and can offer many benefits for both the child care operator and the children, including the ability to access start-up, operating, and various other grant funding opportunities.
For more information, contact:
Capital and Space Development
Early Learning and Child Care Division
Email: CCGF@gov.mb.ca
