Saskatchewan’s delay in signing the federal government’s extension to the $10-a-day childcare agreement is raising concerns among parents, childcare providers, and community leaders, who warn of potential closures and economic setbacks unless the province commits to the plan.
The federal childcare agreement, launched in 2021 as a five-year initiative to build a national, affordable childcare system, is set to expire in March 2026. Earlier this year, Ottawa offered provinces the opportunity to extend the agreement until 2031. Eleven out of thirteen jurisdictions have already signed the extension — only Saskatchewan and Alberta remain unsigned.
Joan Pratchler, Saskatchewan’s Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Learning, was in Humboldt speaking to leaders and workers from various daycare centres in the community. Pratchler criticized the provincial government's inaction and warned of cascading consequences for families and the economy. In an interview, she was straightforward in responding to the steps the Sask Pary government needed to take.
“At the very lowest rung of this bar — sign that deal. Get some certainty in the financial area and give families a chance to exhale.”
The provincial government has stated it is seeking a “better deal” before signing the extension. However, Pratchler disputes the feasibility of renegotiation under the current terms.
“There is no modification to that deal,” she said. “As a principal and a mom and a grandma… this just doesn’t make sense. How would a different deal for one province even work logistically?”
Childcare providers across Saskatchewan have expressed alarm over the uncertainty. Many are facing financial strain due to frozen fee structures implemented under the original agreement while operational costs such as rent, utilities, and food continue to rise. New childcare centres, which were counting on the program’s continuation, are struggling to secure loans without long-term funding guarantees.
“Some centres are closing before they even open,” Pratchler said. “Banks are saying no to loans because there’s no certainty of funding past March 2026.”
In Regina alone, Pratchler estimates up to 800 childcare spaces are at risk. Many of these are located in high-need urban areas with few alternatives.
“That’s 800 families potentially unable to work,” she noted. “The employment impact is huge, and for families — where do you put your little ones?”
She also highlighted the broader economic implications, particularly in growing regions such as Humboldt, where a major new mining development is expected to create high demand for skilled labour.
“Childcare is not just a family issue. It’s an economic infrastructure issue,” Pratchler emphasized. “Nurses, teachers, retail workers — they all need childcare. Without it, everything slows down.”
Pratchler is calling on the provincial government to sign the agreement immediately and to also provide emergency funding for struggling centres.
“Even while you’re waiting to sign, you can release crisis funding now,” she urged. “You’re the government — do what you need to do to support families and providers.”
She also pushed for a new, equitable funding model and stronger consultation with families and childcare operators across the province.
“The experts are the moms, the dads, and the care providers. Talk to them; their needs are different in Humboldt than they are in Regina or Yorkton.”
Saskatchewan was among the first provinces to sign the original 2021 agreement, a fact Pratchler finds both ironic and disappointing given the current delay.
“We were leaders back then,” she said. “Not so much now.”
As the clock ticks toward March 2026, the opposition continues to put pressure on the province to act — not just for the sake of affordability, but to ensure the sustainability of a system that thousands of Saskatchewan families rely on every day.
The full conversation with Regina Rochdale MLA Joan Pratcher follows.