Sask. to get $27.7M federal money for new child-care centres

Saskatchewan will receive $27.7 million in funding from the federal government's Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund to add more child-care spaces in the province. 

The money will be distributed over the next four years to build additional daycare spaces in new regulated and non-profit childcare centres. 

The Federal Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera said that the investment should make a huge difference for Saskatchewan families at a news conference in Regina on Monday. 

"Fairness is a promise that fundamentally defines our country. The promise of fairness, the promise of Canada, is that everyone should have the chance to build a good middle-class life," Khera said.

She said the $27.7 million is being given to Saskatchewan to reach its goal of 25,000 child-care spaces by 2026. 

"I know the provinces of Saskatchewan has particularly reached close to 6,000 spaces already," she said. 

Joining Khera at the conference was Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree, and there were also some children sitting in the audience. 

"As we create more spaces, more parents are entering or re-entering the workforce, supporting a stronger economy. I think more of your siblings can have child-care spaces too," he said looking at the children in the room. 

He said that more child-care spaces will mean that families can save up to $6,900 per year with $10-a-day child care in Saskatchewan. 

"We heard parents say there were not enough spaces, and we are stepping up to fill the gaps for public and non-profit child care providers," Anandasangaree said. 

"I think of how impactful affordable child care could have been for my mother, who raised me while working and putting herself through school. I think about how many doors this program will open for generations to come, for young people like my daughters and their peers," he said. 

Anandasangaree said the money will allow rural and Indigenous communities to feel supported. 

"On Wednesday, we'll be making an announcement, separate from today on support for White Cap Dakota in Saskatoon," he said. 

He did not provide more details about the announcement. 

Anandasangaree said those who are part of early childhood education programs and choose to work in remote and rural areas will receive incentives in order to increase capacity outside of urban centres. 

"We're going to achieve the goal of getting to $10-a-day childcare, but we're going to get there a lot faster if we have the infrastructure to support that," he said.