Saskatchewan families are set to get a helping hand.
This morning the federal and provincial governments announced an agreement that will support an average of $10 a day early learning and child care for Saskatchewan families by the end of 2025-26.
The federal government is investing $1.1 billion over the next five years, which will create 28,000 new regulated early learning and child care spaces.
It is expected families will see a 50 per cent reduction in average parent fees for children under age six in regulated child care by the end of 2022.
The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have also reached an agreement to extend the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The federal government will provide over $68.5 million over the next four years to increase access to affordable, inclusive and high-quality child care spaces.
In addition, the Government of Canada will provide the province with a one-time investment of over $17 million in 2021-2022 to support the early childhood workforce.
"The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to investing in affordable, accessible and quality early learning and child care options that provide flexibility and choice to Saskatchewan families. We are pleased that this deal creates 28,000 new regulated spaces, makes life more affordable for Saskatchewan families and enhances the wages of Early Childhood Educators who support children across our province," said Minister of Education Dustin Duncan.
"This is an incredible and transformational time for early learning and child care in our province. Not only will this agreement support children and families in Saskatchewan, but it will also support Early Childhood Educators. The agreement will promote economic growth, empower women in the workforce, and nurture better outcomes for children," added Georgia Lavallee, executive director of the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association.
Saskatchewan is the eighth jurisdiction in Canada to sign on to the federal government’s child care agreement.
