Provincial, federal governments offer $44M in child-care grants

Inflation and rising costs are causing issues for some child-care centres and homes around Saskatchewan.

That’s why the provincial and federal governments have partnered to offer $44 million in one-time grants intended to help regulated early learning and child-care centres offset rising costs from inflation, preventative maintenance and repairs, and the purchase of outdoor winter play equipment.

Dustin Duncan, Saskatchewan’s education minister, said the funding represents an investment in the province’s future.

“This additional funding helps ensure our regulated early learning and child-care centres and homes continue to operate safe, modern facilities while encouraging young children to grow, learn and play,” Duncan said in a statement.

Karina Gould, the federal minister of families, children and social development, echoed Duncan’s comments, saying the money will help provide the best possible start to life for children in Canada.

“These grants will help ensure child-care providers can continue to provide access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care across the province,” Gould said in a statement.

The grants to offset inflation will provide up to $15 million to regulated centres and homes across Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Education said, with each receiving approximately $650 per eligible child-care space.

The funding for maintenance and repairs totals $27 million, the ministry said, and will assist in “the proactive maintenance of regulated centres’ structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems to prolong life of facilities.” The grant amounts range from $1,600 to $3,200, depending on the type and location of the space.

The $2-million winter season grants will see each space receive $100, which the ministry said is earmarked for the purchasing of equipment and materials “to encourage outdoor physical activity and winter play.”

More information on the grants will be shared with regulated child-care centres and homes in the coming days, the ministry said.