Halifax has among highest child care costs across Canadian cities: new study
HALIFAX — A new report by a think tank says Halifax has some of the highest child care costs among major Canadian cities.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the median fee for daycare in Halifax was $24 a day per child as of April.
That puts Halifax as the sixth most expensive city for child care out of 35 major cities in the country.
Halifax's median daycare fees were more expensive than those in Toronto, Oakville, Ottawa and all other Atlantic cities studied.
The think tank examined the progress provinces and territories are making on hitting the federal government's target of having child care cost an average of $10 a day.
Kenya Thompson, with Child Care Now Nova Scotia, says families in the province continue to struggle to find daycare they can afford.
She says the provincial government needs to significantly invest in the child care sector to subsidize fees and ensure parents with young children remain in the workforce.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.
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Globe and Mail
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- Globe and Mail
Better late than never More Canadians are buying their first homes in their 40s and beyond – and they're okay with that Zahra Khozema The Globe and Mail Published 32 seconds ago
For generations, the path to adulthood in Canada was scripted: you graduated, started working and bought a house, likely all in your 20s. That timeline has changed. Hindered by expensive housing, a growing number of Canadians are buying their first home later in life – into their 40s and beyond, a time traditionally used to save for retirement. So, what are Canadians doing in their 20s and early 30s, if not making mortgage payments? They're focusing on travel, education, career growth and, yes, slowly saving for a down payment. Undaunted by the pressure to reach certain financial and life milestones by a certain age, they're living life on their own terms and at their own pace. 'I find that this younger generation is, like, screw the timelines,' says certified financial planner Shannon Tatlock, 41. 'We just want to get there eventually, and it might take us longer and that's okay.' The data back her up. According to the most recent government figures, the average age of a first-time homebuyer in Canada is now just under 35 – and homeownership among the 25- to 34-year-old set has been steadily declining. In 2011, 51.7 per cent of this age group owned homes. That number fell to 47.3 per cent in 2016, and dropped further to 44.4 per cent in 2021. While the under-35 group still makes up the largest share of first-time buyers today, the over-35 demographic keeps creeping higher, rising at a faster rate across the country. Between 2018 and 2021, the older segment of first-time homebuyers grew more in all four provinces that shared home ownership data collected by the Canadian Housing Statistics Program. Research from Teranet, a service that tracks land transfers, puts the typical Ontario first-time buyer at 40 years old now. A big part of what's driving this trend is the relentless rise in home prices. In Ontario and British Columbia, prices have eased from their peaks in early 2022, but five other provinces – including Quebec and Nova Scotia − hit record highs in average or benchmark prices this April year-over-year. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average home now costs under $700,000 – nearly quadruple what Statistics Canada listed in 2000. Meanwhile, in the same time period, annual individual income saw a relatively modest increase of $10,000, up to $59,400. Even with a recent dip, home prices remain far above historical levels, having peaked at more than $800,000 in 2022. The numbers are even more staggering in urban centres. The average home in June, 2025, sold for $1,101,691 in the Greater Toronto Area and $1,273,462 in Greater Vancouver, according to a site that provides online real estate and financial tools. The Calgary market, often seen as a more affordable, was not immune to the same trend – the average home price rose to $646,147, up 3.7 per cent from last year. Ms. Tatlock bought her home in Moncton several years ago and says that, nowadays, even in typically affordable regions such as hers, buying a first home is difficult and requires sacrifices not everyone is willing to make. 'Maybe your goal is a three-bedroom, stand-alone home,' she said. 'I could help you save to get to the condo or to get to the townhouse. If you want this stand-alone, then we might need to make some really big changes to your lifestyle.' Vancouver-based certified financial planner Steve Bridge says not all late buyers are in the same financial boat. Those in their 50s and early 60s are often in their peak earning years and can hammer down a mortgage with doubled-up or lump-sum payments, which isn't always the case for people in their 40s, who are often juggling kids' expenses and household costs. The struggle for late first-time homebuyers is how to still save for retirement. There are options, he says, such as getting a second source of income, taking in renters, working past retirement age and living more frugally. 'It's just, are we willing to do it?' One thing he doesn't recommend is relying solely on your home for retirement income. 'You can't eat a house,' he said. You can sell and downsize, or rent, or you can take a reverse mortgage, 'but that just builds up debt again.' One thing that is certainly more common, Mr. Bridge says, is people retiring with a mortgage. Ms. Tatlock sees the same tension between paying off a mortgage and preparing for the future. If buying a home is your goal, she says 'saving for retirement is happening a little later.' 'That's okay,' she adds. Retirement planning is also different these days, Ms. Tatlock noted, with fewer pensions and more people on the hook for driving their own savings. Younger generations of Canadians, she said, won't have the luxury of seeing their homes skyrocket in value the way their parents and grandparents did. That means later homebuyers who still want to retire early could switch to part-time work or pursue passion projects. 'You've got these great skills, and the companies are happy because they don't have to pay you a full-time salary. Win, win,' Mr. Bridge says. When asked why financial, real estate and mortgage advice hasn't evolved as quickly as the buyers it serves, Mr. Bridge is blunt: A lot of advice is tied to commissions, which can conflict with clients' best interests. 'Of course, the realtor wants you to buy the house. Of course, the bank says you're qualified for a million-dollar mortgage.' When the Ealeys moved to Japan in 2009, buying a house wasn't top of mind. Instead, they prioritized giving their two sons the experience of growing up abroad. 'We wanted our kids to grow up in a different culture and to learn a different language,' said Mrs. Ealey, who is now an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. She worked in research while Mr. Ealey, a high-school principal, taught at an international school. The family rented in Tokyo for 10 years, using their savings to travel back to Canada regularly to see family. 'We spent a lot of money on flights,' Mr. Ealey said. 'We felt it was important our kids didn't go 10 years without being close to their family.' They returned to Canada in 2019, hoping for a smoother transition than they got. Mr. Ealey was job hunting and Mrs. Ealey had just started a postdoctoral role at the Hospital for Sick Children. With no savings and no place to live, they moved into Mr. Ealey's parents' basement in Brampton for nine months. 'We didn't have a place to stay… we didn't have any money,' Mrs. Ealey recalled. 'The situation wasn't the greatest.' They began looking for rentals, but when Mrs. Ealey's brother spotted a semi-detached raised bungalow nearby listed for $640,000, the couple reconsidered. It felt like a stretch, but with financial help from both sets of parents, they scraped together a 5-per-cent down payment. 'This was the best price we're going to get at this time,' Mr. Ealey said. They bought their home just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It's located five minutes from a train station and has three bedrooms upstairs and two in the basement – which they rent out for extra income. Mrs. Ealey admits it's not her dream house, but after some renovations, she says it's more homey. 'I never thought that we'd have to be in the house and you have to have a renter to survive,' she said. 'We have four people, two big, grown boys, and we have to live just upstairs, which feels, to me, like an apartment.' With 25 years left on the mortgage after a recent renewal, the couple may be 75 when it's finally paid off. But for them, buying in their 40s came down to timing, not failure. 'We had different priorities,' said Mr. Ealey. 'We've done our travel. We've lived.' Mr. Ealey, who has a good pension, feels secure about retirement. His kids could also help with the bills when they're older. 'There's something about just owning a home ... having something to hand down to your kids,' Mr. Ealey added. Takeaway: Prioritizing life experiences can still lead to stability if you have help from family, are willing to rent part of your home and feel comfortable depending on your kids in later years. When business analyst Kevin Moroso crossed into his 40s, his priorities shifted. 'You're suddenly like, I'm 25 years from retirement. Am I going to be renting in retirement? And what happens when I'm just on a pension and my rent goes up? Wouldn't it be nice to own a place, pay it off and then I don't have a mortgage to pay when I reach 65?' That thinking pushed Mr. Moroso, now 44, to enter the housing market last year. He purchased a $610,000 estate-sale home on Gabriola Island, a few kilometres east of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. He put 20 per cent down for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that sits on nearly an acre of land. He attributes his find to luck. 'The daughter just wanted to sell quickly,' he said. For years, he had resisted home ownership in Vancouver, where his budget would have only stretched to older apartments, such as ones built in the 1990s and already showing signs of wear. He couldn't justify sinking his savings into a property that might not hold its value over the next 25 years. When the pandemic hit, Mr. Moroso found himself locked down in a small East Vancouver rental, paying $1,600 a month. He had no savings – he'd just returned from a year of gallivanting around Berlin. But with nowhere to go and nothing to spend money on, he decided to make a drastic change and start stashing away his earnings. 'I kind of had gone through this complete life change to save up money. I wouldn't even go out and buy a coffee.' Over four years, he diverted half of every paycheque into savings, contributing to his RRSP and a new first home savings account. 'I used all those vehicles that were available for me,' he says. He also put money into GICs for short-term stability. Combined, he pulled together enough for a down payment – and got additional help from tax breaks, including an $8,000 property transfer tax rebate from the province. Today, his mortgage is around $2,700 a month – higher than rent. But with a defined benefit pension and a plan to pay down the mortgage quickly, he's confident he'll be set up for retirement. 'Technically, I'd be 69 if I go by the 25 years, but I do want to pay that down faster.' He rents out one room to vacationers and has space for visiting family. It's stressful at times, because rural living brings surprise expenses, but Mr. Moroso says he has no regrets. 'It's a different type of fun over here. It's a lot more relaxed … people are chill.' Takeaway: It's possible to save aggressively for a down payment after living it up in your 30s because you likely have a higher income at that time. And if you're open to leaving the big city, you can get more for your buck. Finally has a steady career and enough savings, and the market dipped At 40, Alicia Ho has finally stepped onto the property ladder – on her own terms. The senior manager at a human-resources technology company recently bought a one-bedroom-plus-den condo in downtown Toronto for $520,000, and moved into the unit in June. She was able to make a 20-per-cent down payment, but getting to that point hadn't been quick or easy. Ms. Ho's journey to homeownership was shaped by detours. She worked abroad for nearly a decade, switched careers and had to start over. 'Every time I graduated or got into the work force, there was always a recession. It was a constant struggle to even get a decent job,' she said. She switched jobs last fall, landing a role that bumped up her salary and felt like the right long-term fit. Once she passed her probation period, she felt stable enough to make an offer in January, 2025, while also taking advantage of softening condo prices. Though she still doesn't feel she's hit a truly 'comfortable' income, she saved enough: the 20-per-cent down payment, plus a sizable reserve for emergencies. The dip in prices meant she could even set aside some money for renovations. To make the move, she had to unlearn financial habits passed down from her immigrant parents, who encouraged saving but not investing. Over time, she taught herself to build credit and invest strategically. While saving, she rented a two-bedroom unit near the Distillery District with a roommate, paying $1,375 for her share. The apartment and landlord were great, but she was ready to have her own space. Still, buying alone came with hesitation. 'I was very, very reluctant to take that step,' she said. 'Because it is an extra amount of stress on my finances.' The 700-square-foot unit she now calls home isn't new, but it's spacious and well-priced. While she once considered leaving Toronto for more space, she's unsure how long her remote work set-up will last. Ms. Ho knows a 30-year mortgage means payments into her 70s, but ownership gives her more control over her future, a chance to build equity and to eventually 'level up' to something bigger. Takeaway: When you're in the market long enough, you recognize trends. Alicia saved up and took advantage of the most recent market dip in the condo market. Michael Van Tomme became a homeowner in Moosomin in his late 40s – a milestone that came relatively late in life but marked a significant step toward establishing roots in Canada. Originally from the Philippines, Mr. Van Tomme moved to Canada in 2020 with his four kids to join his wife, 46, who had arrived two years earlier for work. In 2022, they purchased a three-bedroom detached house for $250,000, making a 5-per-cent down payment. With renovations, they were able to add two extra bedrooms in the basement. For the Van Tommes, moving to Moosomin wasn't just about affordability, it was about a fresh start and building a future. 'The reason why we came here is really for our kids ... There's more opportunity for our kids here in Canada, especially with free education,' the car sales consultant said. The couple's decision to buy a house was driven by a desire to build equity and create a permanent home for their family – something that felt even more important after leaving behind their place in Manila and starting over. Mr. Van Tomme acknowledges that renting might have been cheaper, but he values the long-term benefits of homeownership. 'If you like to build equity, and you like to build your roots in the community… It's more of a permanent situation,' he said. Moosomin, a town of 2,700 near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, is a growing hub for newcomers, including a Filipino population about 300 strong. The Van Tommes are heavily involved in the community and drawn to Moosomin's slower pace of life, low crime rate and tight-knit feel. 'We like it here,' Mr. Van Tomme said. His experience reflects a broader trend among immigrants in Canada, who tend to place a higher value on homeownership than other Canadians. Statistics Canada indicates that immigrants are more likely to devote a greater share of their income to buying a home. As Mr. Van Tomme looks toward retirement, he remains optimistic. He plans to pay off the mortgage sooner than scheduled and considers options such as downsizing or renting the property after his kids find their own paths. Takeaway: For many immigrants, homeownership in Canada is less about financial convenience and more about building roots, stability and a better future for their families. Nitin Madhvani works in sales at a tech company and his wife works in hospitality. In 2021, the couple was renting a condo in downtown Toronto when they found out they were expecting twins. 'We just immediately needed more space,' Mr. Madhvani said. To accommodate their growing family, they temporarily moved in with his wife's parents. Mr. Madhvani spent hours walking around the neighbourhood, looking at homes for sale. 'It became clear that proximity to the grandparents was going to be a huge game changer,' he said. After a month of searching, they found a home they could afford and bought it by summer, 2022. The house was just five minutes away from his in-laws, making it an ideal choice. Mr. Madhvani describes their $1.2-million home as a 'cookie-cutter' build 'put together with duct tape.' The house has four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms and a one-car garage. Although Mr. Madhvani and his wife have decent incomes, the financial strain of homeownership is significant. The mortgage, along with the cost of daycare for their twins, has put pressure on their monthly cash flow. 'None of it really just feels good,' Mr. Madhvani said. 'I worry about ... being able to keep up with that standard of living that my parents were able to provide for us.' Mr. Madhvani isn't too concerned about retirement, an outlook that differs from the traditional path his parents followed. His parents, both immigrants, worked long careers and retired in their early 60s, a familiar story for first-generation Canadians. 'I don't see that path being available to me,' Mr. Madhvani said. He's noticed many retirees moving abroad, taking their savings to lower-cost countries, and wonders if that might be their reality some day. The pressures of balancing work, the costs of homeownership and a growing family have made Mr. Madhvani question whether buying was the right path. He often wonders, too, if they could be living a better life in places such as Dubai, where they could afford a nanny, or outside Atlanta, where they also have family and could get a larger home for a fraction of the cost. 'Could we be better off elsewhere if we're willing to do what our parents did, which was like, pick up and go?' But for now, they are making it work, and enjoying the perks of being close to his wife's family. Takeaway: Buying later in life with solid careers and incomes can still make you question whether following the traditional path is worth it. In 2021, just shy of 50, Caroline Nadeau bought her own home – a two-bedroom condo in a six-unit townhouse-style building in Montreal – for $335,000. She put down $65,000 with help from her RRSP. It was a milestone she once thought might never happen. When she separated from her husband in 2009 after 20 years together, Ms. Nadeau found herself starting over in every sense. At the time, the couple lived in Toronto and owned a house in which they were raising two daughters. But when the relationship ended, so did that stability. 'I started literally from scratch, going from that environment to living on my own,' she said. They sold the house and split the equity evenly. Ms. Nadeau walked away with $18,000. During the breakup, she was on a hiatus from her career in the insurance sector, teaching French and earning under $10,000 a year. She chose not to pursue spousal support to prove to herself that she could make it on her own. She rented for the next decade, scraping by and rebuilding her life. 'There were times I didn't know how I was going to feed them,' she said. 'Cash flow became a very, very big problem, especially with the girls.' After the separation, Ms. Nadeau lost her credit rating and turned to payday loans to get by. She borrowed small amounts and paid them back quickly to rebuild her credit and put whatever she could into investments. By 2017, she'd returned to her corporate job and moved to Montreal for a promotion. Though she didn't expect to stay, a new relationship kept her in Quebec. Ms. Nadeau also wanted to build financial resilience. 'That path was real estate, and the fact that I was in Montreal, as opposed to Toronto, was a perfect way to get into the market.' She describes her mortgage as manageable and less than what rent would cost, so she's not in a rush to clear it. Her plan is to rent out her condo soon and move in with her current partner. When retirement comes, she might sell. Looking back, she felt she 'had the discipline of a soldier.' When her parents gave her small amounts of cash for Christmas, she'd buy an exchange-traded fund. Today, Ms. Nadeau is on track to max out her tax-free savings account. Her advice to others? 'Even if you buy later in life… at least you get your feet in.' Takeaway: It is always possible to start over.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
I came to Canada as an international student. It was a cold, hard road to achieving my dream
Social Sharing This First Person column is written by Keerthy Vinukonda, who lives in Toronto. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ. I rushed to the bus stop just after midnight after a busy shift at a pizza shop supervising the staff and making sure the orders were prepared correctly. It wasn't my ideal job — I had earned a pharmacy degree in India — but it was one of the few that would put an international student like me on track for permanent residency. As the minutes crept by and no bus appeared, I realized I had missed it. After another 30 minutes of standing around in -15 C, the next bus finally arrived to take me to the subway. It was 2 a.m. by the time I finally walked down the steps to my basement rental. Cold winter moments like this made me question my choices and whether my hope of being a Canadian was worth the struggle. Despite being completely exhausted, I was up early the next day, sleepily reviewing my notes on organic chemistry for a pharmacist equivalency exam — a necessary step to get my degree from India recognized in Canada. Jolting me alert was the ring tone of my twin sister phoning from India. She was eager to come to Canada, based on the heaven-like portrayals of this country in India in many media advertisements promising easy work. I tried to slow her enthusiasm by listing cold realities, like the weather and obstacles in my career path. Once upon a time, I also used to dream of coming to Canada. But my dreams did not include the twists and turns I would experience in my journey to becoming a Canadian. Sold on promises Given the high levels of unemployment for young, educated professionals in India, it was difficult to find a job — even with my degree — so I decided to study abroad. I arrived in Toronto on a study permit in 2016 and eventually completed a health-care administration program in 2017 from a private college. I then got another certificate from a publicly funded institution. After graduation, I obtained a work permit and worked six days a week as a shift supervisor. I was assigned to three restaurants that were far from where I lived. I had 20 hours of commuting time each week. Restaurant work was a world away from the career I had trained for, but because the job was considered " Canadian skilled work experience," it qualified me for the Express Entry stream of immigration. In 2021, I received a letter inviting me to apply for permanent residency, and became a Canadian citizen three years later. It felt ironic that on the day that I was invited to my citizenship ceremony news headlines were focused on a new cap on study permits for international students, citing schools — including one, Alpha College, that I had attended — that gave out " sham" degrees or were " bad actors." I don't have anything bad to say about the students or instructors, but the courses at Alpha College could have had more substance. WATCH | What international students mean for Canada's economy: Is Canada accepting too many international students? | About That 1 year ago Duration 10:23 When I arrived, I was fortunate to find reasonably priced rooms for rent, and I avoided the expensive, overcrowded housing that was commonplace among my friends. But just like falling down on ice, not everything flowed smoothly for me. Despite graduating "first class with distinction" in India, I was unable to pass the Canadian pharmacy equivalency exams. I was emotionally exhausted and physically burned out from commuting long distances to work a job that was unrelated to my studies. Although I later found work as a pharmacy assistant, I cannot claim to be a pharmacist in Canada. Given what I had gone through, I wish I'd heard more realistic perspectives from people already in Canada rather than from immigration counselling firms in India, which advertised that you could earn more money in one month than people in India make in one year. I thought I could provide a luxury lifestyle for myself and my family. It was not easy to chart a pathway when the reality was so different from my expectations. But everything considered, I am proud to be a Canadian citizen. Even though I've dealt with some rude customers in my different jobs in Canada, generally, I can see that there is a basic level of respect for all people. People are able to live their lives freely, and that's something I value. I've started a family here. The moments of singing O Canada at the citizenship ceremony and voting in an election in Canada for the first time are pleasant memories that will last forever. Some of my friends from India use the words "back home" to describe India. Life doesn't always turn out perfectly, but after a long path to permanent residency and citizenship, I'm proud to call Canada my home.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Advocates call for more transparency in home insurance rates amid rise in extreme weather
Social Sharing As home insurance costs rise sharply amid increasing extreme weather events, one advocacy group is calling for more transparency from Ontario's financial services regulator into the increasing rates. Investors for Paris Compliance says the rising frequency of floods and wildfires due to climate change is pushing rates toward unaffordable levels, and the province's home insurance sector needs to be investigated. "There's been open-ended rate hikes, while at the same time there's been shrinking coverage due to the escalating costs of climate change," said Kiera Taylor, senior policy analyst at Investors for Paris Compliance. "There's a lot of ripple effects, which really contribute to an affordability crisis and just more general instability in our financial system," she said. Data shows, in 2024, insured losses from severe weather across the country exceeded $9 billion, said Brett Weltman, spokesperson for the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). That figure is nearly three times higher than insured losses recorded in 2023, and more than 12 times the annual average of losses between 2001 and 2010, he said. "Year over year, severe weather losses are rising at an alarming, exponential rate," he said in an email to CBC Toronto. Investors for Paris Compliance has made a submission to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) — an agency of the government of Ontario that protects the rights of consumers — asking for more transparency, including considering public disclosure of rate changes as is done with auto insurance. The advocacy group is also asking the FSRA to make climate risk data public, such as flood maps, which insurers use to price risk. Currently, consumers only have access to public flood risk mapping which is often out of date, Taylor said. Home insurance rates not under FSRA's authority The FSRA said in a statement its authority under Ontario's Insurance Act includes licensing insurance agents, setting conduct standards and approving auto insurance rates — but not home insurance rates, as home insurance is not mandatory in Ontario. But Taylor said the FSRA can require insurers to publicly disclose rate changes, even if it doesn't have the authority to regulate or cap them. Epic rains, flooding raise concern about Toronto's climate readiness 12 months ago Duration 2:05 Still, the FSRA says it has significantly increased its oversight of the property and casualty insurance sector. This sector includes insurance protecting people and businesses from financial losses due to property damage, theft, natural disasters and legal claims, according to the agency. The FSRA published a report in June 2024 reviewing home insurance claims practices across the top 20 insurers in Ontario. The agency said it identified "several areas of concern" that were addressed directly with insurers. These included irregular or insufficient communication with customers, and some companies not adequately tracking the reasons why claims are denied. Homeowners need better access to risk information, Weltman said. The IBC is working with the FSRA "to determine mechanisms to share risk information," he said. He said the insurance industry is also collaborating with the federal government to develop a flood risk portal. But Taylor said without an analysis of Ontarians' threshold to continue paying for ongoing open ended hikes, the province could end up with a large portion of households unable to afford insurance at all. "We need to see where the system breaks: how many homes, and at what price of insurance," she said. Home insurance premiums rapidly increasing: Ontario home insurance rates climbed 84 per cent between 2014 and 2024, according to analysis by My Choice Financial Inc., while for Canada as a whole rates climbed 76 per cent in the decade. The increases came despite Statistics Canada data showing inflation of 28 per cent over the period. According to home insurance premiums are rapidly increasing across the province, and flood risk plays a huge role. Last year, Toronto was pummelled with close to 100 millimetres of rain in one day, which left dozens of homeowners dealing with insurance claims for flooded basements. Similar extreme weather events are only expected to continue due to climate change. "We've seen in 2025 rates are already up around 5 per cent in the first quarter," said David Mayer, director of insurance markets at "So continue to shop your insurance before your renewal arrives and see if you can get a better deal." If a consumer has filed a recent claim related to severe weather, Weltman said they should reach out to their insurance representative, who may be able to offer suggestions on steps they can take to better protect their property in the short-term. But he said all levels of government should work together to strengthen municipal capacity to deal with natural disasters. This includes improving where and how building happens, such as by avoiding floodplains and using resilient materials, he said. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance said the department is working with FSRA "to monitor the situation closely and ensure homeowners are receiving the best possible options." "We are also in regular contact with the insurance industry to discuss options to support homeowner insurance," Scott Blodgett said via email.
