An agreement has been reached by the provincial and federal governments that aims to bring the average cost for regulated child care spots down to $10 a day by the end of 2025-26. The announcement was made as part of an announcement in the recent federal budget which committed to establishing a community-based system of early learning and child care in the country that is affordable.  

Part of the announcement, made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen, and Saskatchewan Education Minister Dustin Duncan, included a goal of having a 50 percent reduction in average parent fees for children under six in regulated child care in Saskatchewan by the end of 2022. 

"The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to investing in affordable, accessible and quality early learning and child care options that provide flexibility and choice to Saskatchewan families,” said Duncan. “We are pleased that this deal creates 28,000 new regulated spaces, makes life more affordable for Saskatchewan families and enhances the wages of Early Childhood Educators who support children across our province." 

Those 28,000 new spaces were part of a $1.1 billion over five years funding announcement by the federal government. The funding will help to cover the expansion of these new child care spaces in not-for-profit child care centres, small child care facilities and home-based child care. 

"Ensuring that all Canadians have access to high-quality and affordable early learning and child care makes sense,” stated Freeland. “Not only does it give our children the best possible start in life, it ensures that parents - especially mothers - can work, and it creates good, well-paying jobs for educators.  Today's announcement with the Government of Saskatchewan is another important step in making this a reality for families everywhere in Canada.  It is part of the government's plan to make sure that Canada's recovery from the COVID-19 recession leaves no one behind." 

Saskatchewan is the eighth jurisdiction to reach an Early Learning and Child Care Agreement with the federal government. An implementation committee will be established to monitor the progress of the commitments included in the deal. Some of those commitments include collaborative work with First Nations and Metis Nation communities and supporting a fully inclusive system for children with disabilities and those needing enhanced supports.