Area child care facilities will be the beneficiaries of the latest funding announcement by the Governments of Saskatchewan and Canada. The additional $23.5 million in funding is designed to create 2,349 new regulated childcare spaces in the provinces.
Local centres to reap the benefits include Humboldt’s new Prairie Roots Learning Centre with 40 spaces, a new development in Cudworth set for 40 spaces, and expansions in LeRoy of 30 spaces, along with an expansion of an additional 30 set for Lanigan.
“This investment of $23.5 million will provide Saskatchewan families greater access to affordable, high-quality early learning and child care opportunities,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “These spaces will support positive child development, early literacy and student achievement.”
A provincial release says funding for the newly announced spaces has been allocated to 51 organizations in 41 communities that will either build new facilities or add new spaces within their existing facilities. The province will be looking to fund nearly 400 additional spaces through an application process.
Métis Nation-Saskatchewan is in the process of acquiring land in Saskatoon and Regina for 90-space child care centres.
“Providing a culturally safe space for Métis children in their early learning years is key. We know from various studies and our history that children who are raised with their identity, culture, language and values have a stronger chance of thriving.” Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) President Glen McCallum said. “We are pleased to work with the Province of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada to identify and collaborate on those spaces.”
Funding for these new spaces is provided through the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which provides a federal investment of nearly $1.1 billion over five years for childcare in Saskatchewan.
“When the federal government set out to create a national early learning and child care system with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners, we had three main goals: make child care more affordable, create new child care spaces, and support the workforce,” said Jenna Sudds Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “Thanks to our investment, families in Saskatchewan are already benefiting from an average of $10-a-day early learning and child care, saving up to $6,900 per year per child. These new spaces across the province are an important step in ensuring that all families, no matter where they live, have access to affordable, high-quality, inclusive early learning and child care.”
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