Saskatchewan Governments Invest $10.8 Million in Child-Care Spaces

The provincial and federal governments have joined forces to enhance child-care availability at post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan. This initiative will allocate $10.8 million to establish 540 new child-care spaces. Of these, 450 spaces will be distributed across various campuses of Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and Saskatoon, while 90 spaces will be created at Northlands College in La Ronge.

During the announcement on Wednesday, Saskatchewan Education Minister Everett Hindley emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding child-care options across the province. “We’re working very hard as the provincial government to make sure that wherever we can, we can expand and create more child-care spaces across this province,” he stated. The newly established facilities are designed not only to support students and staff but also to serve as practical training locations for those studying early childhood education.

The project is part of a broader strategy to improve child-care access in Saskatchewan. Thirty percent of the new spaces will specifically cater to “families facing barriers to access, including children with disabilities,” according to a joint announcement from both levels of government. Buckley Belanger, the Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River and Secretary of State for Rural Development, highlighted the importance of affordable and inclusive child care. “Every family should have access to high-quality, affordable and inclusive child care, no matter where they live,” he remarked.

Funding and Future Goals

This investment aligns with the Saskatchewan government’s objective to lower child-care costs in partnership with the federal government. The funding is sourced from the federal early learning and child care infrastructure fund, established as part of an agreement in 2021. This agreement aims to reduce the average cost of child care to $10 daily by 2026. As part of this initiative, the province has committed to increasing the number of licensed child-care spaces for children under six years old, targeting a coverage rate of 5.9 spaces for every 10 children by the same year.

To achieve this ambitious goal, the Saskatchewan government plans to create an additional 28,000 new spaces by 2026. Currently, over 23,000 spaces are either operational or in development. However, a recent study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives revealed that only 5,648 of those spaces are fully functional. Moreover, the report pointed out that more than half of Saskatchewan’s children live in “child-care deserts,” where fewer than three spaces are available for every ten children, a statistic that ranks highest in Canada.

The existing agreement between the provincial and federal governments is set to expire in March 2026. Unlike many other provinces, Saskatchewan has yet to renew this agreement. Minister Hindley noted that discussions with the federal government are ongoing. “We’re waiting for that opportunity to sit down with the federal government,” he stated, acknowledging the challenges of equitable funding distribution.

Despite the uncertainties, Belanger expressed optimism about reaching a new agreement. “These discussions will continue over the next several months,” he assured. “And I can assure you, by 2026, we’ll have a new agreement in place.”

The collaborative effort between the provincial and federal governments marks an important step forward in addressing the child-care needs of students and families in Saskatchewan, aiming to create a more supportive environment for education and early childhood development.