Child care averaging out to $10 per day has been pledged for all families in Saskatchewan by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Saskatchewan Education Minister Dustin Duncan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen were on hand in Regina to make the announcement Friday morning.
The governments say there will be a 50 per cent reduction in average parent fees for children under six in regulated child care for Saskatchewan families as the province joins the plan.
In total, $1.1 billion will be invested over the period, which Duncan will open up 28,000 early education and child-care spaces and make life more affordable for Saskatchewan families, while also enhancing the wages of Early Childhood Educators.
Another $68.5 million will be invested into the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning and Child Care Agreement as well, including a one-time $17 million payment this year to support the early childhood workforce.
Freeland expanded on the Friday announcements, saying not only does it give children the best possible start in life, but it also ensures that parents, especially mothers, can work, and it creates good, well-paying jobs for educators.
Also in the funding announcement was the commitment of working collaboratively with First Nations and Métis Nation communities, which the province says works towards ensuring Indigenous children have access to affordable, high-quality and culturally appropriate child care and early learning.
The Federal Government previously announce over $30 billion for the next five years into Canadian Childcare.
Saskatchewan has become the eighth Canadian jurisdiction to sign onto the federal child care agreement, following B.C., Manitoba, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and Quebec.