Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (2025–26)

The 2025–2026 Expenditure Estimates set out details of the operating and capital spending requirements of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2025.

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Summary

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services' vision is of a person-centered social services system that strengthens communities and supports everyone’s well-being and better outcomes. The ministry is helping to break the cycle of poverty and build an Ontario where children, youth, women and families feel safe, supported and set up for success; where Indigenous peoples have improved outcomes; and where people with disabilities have equal opportunities. We are also working across governments and sectors to support women’s economic and social empowerment and address gender-based violence.

Ministry program summary

Operating expense
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
701	Ministry Administration Program	101,753,600	97,517,900	4,235,700	124,411,723
702	Children and Adult Services Program	20,125,389,900	19,549,137,300	576,252,600	19,055,676,832
	Total operating expense to be voted	20,227,143,500	19,646,655,200	580,488,300	19,180,088,555
	Statutory Appropriations	107,430,765	50,937,665	56,493,100	66,398,029
	Ministry total operating expense	20,334,574,265	19,697,592,865	636,981,400	19,246,486,584
	Consolidation adjustment — Hospitals	(159,117,500)	(127,563,100)	(31,554,400)	(149,206,190)
	Consolidation adjustment — Colleges	(2,183,000)	(638,500)	(1,544,500)	(2,681,438)
	Consolidation adjustment — School Board	(2,060,000)	(1,659,500)	(400,500)	(2,291,970)
	Consolidation adjustment — Ontario Trillium Foundation	(16,826,000)	(16,826,000)	-	(17,326,000)
	Consolidation Adjustment — Children’s Aid Societies	130,810,100	126,239,800	4,570,300	134,779,144
	Other adjustments — Bill 124	-	-	-	(11,005,457)
	Consolidation adjustment — General Real Estate Portfolio	(37,461,000)	(36,091,500)	(1,369,500)	(47,587,156)
	Total including consolidation & other adjustments	20,247,736,865	19,641,054,065	606,682,800	19,151,167,517

Operating assets
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
702	Children and Adult Services Program	122,305,000	56,505,000	65,800,000	52,849,481
704	Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total operating assets to be voted	122,306,000	56,506,000	65,800,000	52,849,481
	Ministry total operating assets	122,306,000	56,506,000	65,800,000	52,849,481

Capital expense
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
704	Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program	194,297,600	177,512,100	16,785,500	159,059,375
	Total capital expense to be voted	194,297,600	177,512,100	16,785,500	159,059,375
	Statutory appropriations	12,323,700	25,610,800	(13,287,100)	19,733,832
	Ministry total capital expense	206,621,300	203,122,900	3,498,400	178,793,207
	Consolidation adjustment — Hospitals	(112,784,900)	(97,055,300)	(15,729,600)	(63,329,478)
	Consolidation adjustment — Children’s Aid Societies	18,775,500	19,267,000	(491,500)	15,380,489
	Consolidation adjustment — General Real Estate Portfolio	-	(2,100,000)	2,100,000	-
	Consolidation adjustment — Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation	(1,675,300)	(1,400,000)	(275,300)	-
	Total including consolidation & other adjustments	110,936,600	121,834,600	(10,898,000)	130,844,218

Capital assets
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
704	Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program	22,164,800	15,671,500	6,493,300	12,543,918
	Total capital assets to be voted	22,164,800	15,671,500	6,493,300	12,543,918
	Ministry total capital assets	22,164,800	15,671,500	6,493,300	12,543,918
	Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets)	20,358,673,465	19,762,888,665	595,784,800	19,282,011,735

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense	Estimates 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
Total operating expense previously published ^{footnote 1[1]}	19,860,386,365	19,441,635,817
Government reorganization
Transfer of functions from other Ministries	18,585,000	6,809,900
Transfer of functions to other Ministries	(181,378,500)	(201,959,133)
Restated total operating expense	19,697,592,865	19,246,486,584

Operating assets	Estimates 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
Total operating assets previously published ^{footnote 2[2]}	56,507,000	53,817,232
Government reorganization
Transfer of functions to other Ministries	(1,000)	(967,751)
Restated total operating assets	56,506,000	52,849,481

Ministry Administration Program — Vote 701

The Ministry Administration Program supports the development and implementation of the ministry's priorities by providing senior management, corporate offices and field staff with policy and program direction, strategic financial and resource planning and management, legal and communication services as well as administrative and operational support services.

Strategic Policy drives the ministry’s mandate by providing leadership, strategic analysis and expertise that cut across or underlie ministry programs and span ministries, governments, partnerships and commitments.

Business Intelligence and Practice leads innovation in the application and integration of data, business intelligence, information management and evidence-based metrics with ministry partners to support organizational effectiveness and demonstrate improved outcomes for Ontarians.

Operating expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
1	Ministry Administration	72,077,400	69,488,500	2,588,900	97,440,295
2	Strategic Policy	29,676,200	28,029,400	1,646,800	26,971,428
	Total operating expense to be voted	101,753,600	97,517,900	4,235,700	124,411,723
S	Minister's salary, the executive council act	47,841	47,841	-	49,301
S	Minister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act	22,378	22,378	-	22,378
S	Parliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act	32,346	32,346	-	33,334
S	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act	1,000	1,000	-	1,451
	Total statutory appropriations	103,565	103,565	-	106,464
	Total operating expense	101,857,165	97,621,465	4,235,700	124,518,187

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense
Vote- item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount $	Amount $
701-1	Ministry Administration
	Salaries and wages		34,616,100
	Employee benefits		3,941,900
	Transportation and communication		1,087,400
	Services		31,549,100
	Supplies and equipment		881,900
	Other transactions		1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		72,077,400
	Sub-Items:
	Executive Offices
	Salaries and wages	5,373,400
	Employee benefits	530,600
	Transportation and communication	156,000
	Services	843,500
	Supplies and equipment	74,500	6,978,000
	Business Services
	Salaries and wages	18,197,900
	Employee benefits	1,767,600
	Transportation and communication	504,800
	Services	900,000
	Supplies and equipment	494,000
	Other transactions	1,000	21,865,300
	Human Resources
	Salaries and wages	2,631,200
	Employee benefits	441,200
	Transportation and communication	46,600
	Services	53,300
	Supplies and equipment	61,000	3,233,300
	Communications Services
	Salaries and wages	6,691,800
	Employee benefits	835,400
	Transportation and communication	150,000
	Services	895,900
	Supplies and equipment	66,000	8,639,100
	Legal Services
	Salaries and wages	23,600
	Transportation and communication	34,300
	Services	8,865,300
	Supplies and equipment	21,200	8,944,400
	Accommodation Services
	Salaries and wages	1,698,200
	Employee benefits	367,100
	Transportation and communication	195,700
	Services	19,991,100
	Supplies and equipment	165,200	22,417,300
	Total operating expense to be voted		72,077,400
701-2	Strategic Policy
	Salaries and wages		21,314,200
	Employee benefits		2,776,800
	Transportation and communication		314,600
	Services		5,174,200
	Supplies and equipment		95,400
	Other transactions		1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		29,676,200
	Statutory appropriations
Statutory	Minister's Salary, the Executive Council Act		47,841
Statutory	Minister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act		22,378
Statutory	Parliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act		32,346
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act		1,000
	Total operating expense for ministry administration program		101,857,165

Children and Adult Services Program — Vote 702

Children and Adult Services programs provide funding for effective and accountable community-based services for individuals needing financial and employment supports, adults with developmental disabilities, children with developmental or physical disabilities and/or special needs, children and youth at risk, youth in conflict with law, and victims of violence.

Social Assistance programs help people return to work by providing financial and employment supports to eligible individuals who are in need, including people with disabilities and their families. The Family Responsibility Office improves the financial security of families by collecting and distributing child and spousal support payments.

The Children and Youth at Risk program includes child protection services delivered by Children's Aid Societies and Indigenous societies to protect children and youth at risk of abuse or neglect; youth justice services to reduce reoffending and provide prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration services; and other culturally appropriate services for Francophone and Indigenous communities and adoption information disclosure services.

Supports to Individuals and Families include services for children and youth with developmental and/or physical disabilities; culturally appropriate health and wellness programs for Indigenous peoples; community-based supports for at-risk youth or women and children experiencing violence; and specialized services for children and youth including autism services, rehabilitation services, and supports for those with complex special needs.

The Ontario Child Benefit provides direct non-taxable financial support for low to moderate income families. The Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent provides children and youth in the care of Children's Aid Societies with access to social, educational and recreational opportunities and a savings program for older youth in care.

The Office of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity works across government to promote women's economic and social empowerment and security and raise awareness of violence against women and human trafficking.

Vote summary

Operating expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
3	Financial and Employment Supports	10,697,731,100	10,404,877,200	292,853,900	10,298,617,108
7	Family Responsibility Office	43,283,400	40,770,400	2,513,000	47,147,548
20	Children and Youth at Risk	2,211,084,500	2,186,851,700	24,232,800	2,179,212,799
21	Supports to Individuals and Families	5,790,803,300	5,529,259,800	261,543,500	5,270,728,477
22	Ontario Child Benefit	1,320,195,700	1,333,195,700	(13,000,000)	1,236,168,294
28	Office of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity	62,291,900	54,182,500	8,109,400	23,802,606
	Total operating expense to be voted	20,125,389,900	19,549,137,300	576,252,600	19,055,676,832
S	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act	107,327,200	50,834,100	56,493,100	66,291,565
	Total statutory appropriations	107,327,200	50,834,100	56,493,100	66,291,565
	Total operating expense	20,232,717,100	19,599,971,400	632,745,700	19,121,968,397

Operating assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
9	Children and Adult Services	122,305,000	56,505,000	65,800,000	52,849,481
	Total operating assets to be voted	122,305,000	56,505,000	65,800,000	52,849,481
	Total operating assets	122,305,000	56,505,000	65,800,000	52,849,481

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense
Vote- item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $	Amount $	Amount $
702-3	Financial and Employment Supports
	Salaries and wages			161,607,400
	Employee benefits			24,889,400
	Transportation and communication			5,784,700
	Services			14,864,100
	Supplies and equipment			1,274,400
	Transfer payments
	Ontario Disability Support Program — Financial Assistance		6,493,755,700
	Ontario Disability Support Program — Employment Assistance		274,800
	Ontario Works — Financial Assistance		2,652,681,900
	Ontario Works — Employment Assistance		86,401,200
	Ontario Drug Benefit Plan		1,256,196,500	10,489,310,100
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total Operating expense to be voted			10,697,731,100
702-7	Family Responsibility Office
	Salaries and wages			29,332,700
	Employee benefits			4,475,800
	Transportation and communication			1,866,300
	Services			7,341,800
	Supplies and equipment			265,800
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted			43,283,400
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act			107,327,200
702-20	Children and Youth at Risk
	Salaries and wages			124,263,200
	Employee benefits			21,985,100
	Transportation and communication			2,066,100
	Services			25,330,500
	Supplies and equipment			1,404,500
	Transfer payments
	Child Welfare — Indigenous Community and Prevention Supports		108,572,900
	Child Protection Services		1,685,361,900
	Youth Justice Services		143,071,400
	Child Welfare — Community and Prevention Supports		99,027,900	2,036,034,100
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted			2,211,084,500
	Sub-Items:
	Child Protection Services
	Salaries and wages		12,520,900
	Employee benefits		1,551,900
	Transportation and communication		465,600
	Services		2,688,000
	Supplies and equipment		261,300
	Transfer payments
	Child Welfare — Indigenous Community and Prevention Supports	108,572,900
	Child Protection Services	1,685,361,900
	Child Welfare — Community and Prevention Supports	99,027,900	1,892,962,700	1,910,450,400
	Youth Justice Services
	Salaries and wages		111,742,300
	Employee benefits		20,433,200
	Transportation and communication		1,600,500
	Services		22,642,500
	Supplies and equipment		1,143,200
	Transfer payments
	Youth Justice Services		143,071,400
	Other transactions		1,000	300,634,100
	Total operating expense to be voted			2,211,084,500
702-21	Supports to Individuals and Families
	Salaries and wages			93,930,500
	Employee benefits			15,791,000
	Transportation and communication			2,011,300
	Services			10,955,300
	Supplies and equipment			1,181,400
	Transfer payments
	Child and Youth Community Supports		178,725,700
	Children's Treatment and Rehabilitation Services		388,578,300
	Autism		778,666,000
	Complex Special Needs		144,933,600
	Developmental Services Supportive Living		2,349,835,900
	Supports to Community Living		73,337,700
	Children's Activity Tax Credit		1,000
	Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy		57,581,900
	Supports to Victims of Violence		286,859,900
	Supportive Services		1,303,097,000
	Healthy Families		105,315,800	5,666,932,800
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted			5,790,803,300
	Sub-Items:
	Developmental Services
	Salaries and wages		5,566,800
	Employee benefits		1,786,200
	Transportation and communication		334,700
	Services		2,115,100
	Supplies and equipment		282,600
	Transfer payments
	Developmental Services Supportive Living	2,349,835,900
	Supportive Services	1,303,097,000	3,652,932,900
	Other transactions		1,000	3,663,019,300
	Vulnerable Populations
	Salaries and wages		8,311,000
	Employee benefits		434,600
	Transportation and communication		53,700
	Services		2,007,300
	Supplies and equipment		18,500
	Transfer payments
	Supports to Community Living	73,337,700
	Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy	57,581,900
	Supports to Victims of Violence	286,859,900	417,779,500	428,604,600
	Children and Youth Services
	Salaries and wages		32,870,900
	Employee benefits		5,268,500
	Transportation and communication		596,300
	Services		5,680,100
	Supplies and equipment		425,800
	Transfer payments
	Child and Youth Community Supports	178,725,700
	Children's Treatment and Rehabilitation Services	388,578,300
	Autism	778,666,000
	Complex Special Needs	144,933,600
	Children's Activity Tax Credit	1,000
	Healthy Families	105,315,800	1,596,220,400	1,641,062,000
	Regional Delivery
	Salaries and wages		47,181,800
	Employee benefits		8,301,700
	Transportation and communication		1,026,600
	Services		1,152,800
	Supplies and equipment		454,500	58,117,400
	Total operating expense to be voted			5,790,803,300
702-22	Ontario Child Benefit
	Transfer payments
	Ontario Child Benefit		1,306,000,000
	Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent		14,194,700	1,320,194,700
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted			1,320,195,700
702-28	Office of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity
	Salaries and wages			2,601,900
	Employee benefits			358,500
	Transportation and communication			91,200
	Services			134,700
	Supplies and equipment			33,200
	Transfer payments
	Violence Prevention Initiatives		43,338,400
	Economic Empowerment Initiatives		15,733,000	59,071,400
	Other transactions			1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted			62,291,900
	Total operating expense for Children and Adult Services Program			20,232,717,100

Operating assets
Vote- item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $	Amount $
702-9	Children and Adult Services
	Advances and recoverable amounts
	Ontario Child Benefit	1,000
	Office of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity	1,000
	Children and Youth at Risk	1,000
	Supports to Individuals and Families	1,000
	Family Responsibility Office	1,000
	Ontario Works Financial Assistance	71,800,000
	Ontario Disability Support Program — Financial Assistance	50,500,000	122,305,000
	Total operating assets to be voted		122,305,000
	Total operating assets for Children and Adult Services Program		122,305,000

Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program — Vote 704

The Children, Community and Social Services Capital program provides funding for the ministry’s major and minor infrastructure projects as well as business application software.

Infrastructure funding is provided to community transfer payment recipients and the ministry's directly-operated facilities to acquire, construct, renew and renovate capital assets to support the effective delivery of the ministry's programs and management of core businesses.

Business application software acquired/constructed/developed are capitalized and expensed over the useful life of the asset.

Vote summary

Operating assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
9	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure Capital Program Operating Asset	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total operating assets to be voted	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total operating assets	1,000	1,000	-	-

Capital expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
1	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure	194,296,600	177,511,100	16,785,500	159,059,375
2	Children, Community and Social Services Business Applications and Software	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total Capital Expense to be Voted	194,297,600	177,512,100	16,785,500	159,059,375
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	12,322,700	25,609,800	(13,287,100)	19,733,832
S	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total statutory appropriations	12,323,700	25,610,800	(13,287,100)	19,733,832
	Total capital expense	206,621,300	203,122,900	3,498,400	178,793,207

Capital assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
3	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure Capital Asset	20,933,300	14,440,000	6,493,300	627,358
4	Children, Community and Social Services Business Applications and Software Capital Asset	1,231,500	1,231,500	-	11,916,560
	Total capital assets to be voted	22,164,800	15,671,500	6,493,300	12,543,918
	Total capital assets	22,164,800	15,671,500	6,493,300	12,543,918

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating assets
Vote- item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount $
704-9	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure Capital Program Operating Asset
	Advances and recoverable amounts
	Capital Program	1,000
	Total operating assets to be voted	1,000
	Total operating assets for Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program	1,000

Capital Expense
Vote- item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount $	Amount $
704-1	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure
	Transfer payments
	Community Capital Initiatives	2,000,000
	Capital Grants	171,399,700
	Partner Facility Renewal	20,895,900	194,295,600
	Other transactions
	Provision for Impairment/Loss/Write-down on assets		1,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		194,296,600
704-2	Children, Community and Social Services Business Applications and Software
	Other transactions		1,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		1,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act		12,322,700
	Statutory Appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act		1,000
	Total capital expense for Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program		206,621,300

Capital assets
Vote- item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount $
704-3	Children, Community and Social Services Infrastructure Capital Asset
	Buildings — asset costs	8,354,200
	Buildings – alternative financing and procurement	12,578,100
	Investments in Tangible Capital Asset	1,000
	Total capital assets to be voted	20,933,300
704-4	Children, Community and Social Services Business Applications and Software Capital Asset
	Business application software — asset costs	1,231,500
	Total capital assets to be voted	1,231,500
	Total capital assets for Children, Community and Social Services Capital Program	22,164,800

Updated: June 04, 2025

Published: June 04, 2025

Footnotes

footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total operating expense includes statutory appropriations, special warrants and total operating expense to be voted.
footnote[2] Back to paragraph Total operating assets includes statutory appropriations, special warrants and total operating assets to be voted.