Payments, explained

Verified: October 2026

No, people don't do this for the money — but it's normal to want to understand what it covers. Across Canada, foster parents receive amounts to cover the child's expenses (food, clothing, housing, transportation). It's not a salary: it's reimbursement of real costs, sometimes topped up for the child's needs.

Per day or per month?

Most provinces pay a per diem (daily amount per child), varying by the child's age and sometimes the region. Newfoundland and Labrador pays a monthly amount. Supplements exist for special needs, recreation, exceptional transportation.

What about taxes?

In Canada, amounts paid to foster parents for a child's upkeep are generally tax-free under paragraph 81(1)(h) of the Income Tax Act. In Quebec, RTF compensation under the collective agreement is not taxable. Always confirm with a tax professional for your personal situation.

Quebec's model stands apart

Quebec is unique: foster families are ressources de type familial (RTF), considered self-employed workers covered by a collective agreement (FFARIQ). Compensation combines a daily basic-expenses amount ($34.71/day effective April 1, 2026) and support compensation. Details in our Quebec guide.

Comparison table of published amounts

Important: only 5 of 13 governments publish their amounts. Where nothing is published, we say so plainly instead of inventing a figure.

Province / territory	Published amount	Effective	Notes
Quebec	$34.71/day	Apr 1, 2026	Basic expenses + support compensation; tax-free
Alberta	$25.91 – $38.88/day	Jun 1, 2025	By age (2–17); + skill fees $15.94/$29.23/day; recreation $675–$775/yr; tax-free
Manitoba	$24.32 – $34.72/day	Feb 2025	By age and region
Newfoundland and Labrador	$395 – $680/month	Jun 1, 2026	Per child, by age and region
Northwest Territories	Community base + $5–$7/day	—	Age supplements; base amounts vary by community
British Columbia	Partially published — see the B.C. government payments page.
Nova Scotia	Partially published — reconstructible from government news releases.
Ontario	Not published — varies by Children's Aid Society (third-party sources: $39–$100/day)
Saskatchewan	Not published
New Brunswick	Not published
Prince Edward Island	Not published
Yukon	Not published
Nunavut	Public figures outdated (2005) — confirm with the department

Sources: FSSS-CSN collective agreement (QC), AFKA rate schedule (AB), government news releases (MB, NL, NWT). Verified: October 2026 — re-verify amounts before any decision.

What the amounts don't tell you

Exceptional expenses (dental, glasses, activities) are often reimbursed separately, on approval.
Respite and training are generally paid or reimbursed.
Amounts change: Manitoba's 2025 increase was the first since 2012; Newfoundland's the first in 12 years.