The Government of Canada and Saskatchewan announced an investment of $71.3 million to allocate more than 5,000 child care centre spaces across the province throughout 2024-25.
“Expanding child care facilities throughout the province will be an addition to supporting the wellbeing for Saskatchewan families,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.
About 1,537 of these child care centre spaces have been allocated to new child care facilities or added into existing facilities in 27 Saskatchewan communities and 36 organizations. The other 3,463 spaces will be allocated throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
“This investment will create more opportunities for families to find accessible and high-quality child care in their local communities,” said Cockrill.
Cockrill made the announcement in Prince Albert on Thursday. The South Hill Child Care Cooperative Association Ltd. will receive 30 new spaces at an additional site.
“This is an exciting day, certainly for the community of Prince Albert, and really all the other communities on the list as well,” Cockrill said.
Funding for the creation of regulated child care spaces will be allocated by the province on an on-going basis throughout the year to not-for-profit organizations including cooperatives, municipalities, non-profit corporations and parent groups. The spaces will be approved based on community need and each organization’s readiness to move into the development stage.
“This is an important step that will ensure more kids can get off waitlists and into high-quality centres, and provide more families with access to affordable early learning and child care in their communities.” said Jenna Sudds,Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
Since Canada-Saskatchewan wide early Learning and Child Care signing agreement over 11,000 new child care spaces have been opened or are in the process of being created, an increase of 63 per cent.
