The federal and provincial governments are teaming up to support early learning and childcare centres and homes across the province.
They announced three new, one-time grants totalling $44 million to offset costs incurred from inflation, support preventative maintenance and repairs of centres, and provide funding for outdoor winter play equipment.
“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,” said Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould.
The operating grant to offset inflation costs will provide $15 million to regulated centres and homes across the province. Centres and homes will receive approximately $750 per eligible controlled childcare space with this grant.
The preventative maintenance and repair grant totals a $27 million investment to assist in the proactive maintenance of regulated centres’ structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems to prolong the life of facilities. Grant amounts range from $1,600 per space to $3,200 per space, dependent upon space type and the facility’s location within the province.
The winter season grant totalling $2 million will provide regulated centres and homes with $100 per space funding to purchase equipment and materials to encourage outdoor physical activity and winter play.
“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,” Education Minister Dustin Duncan said.
The funding for all three one-time grants is provided through the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which provides a federal investment of nearly $1.1 billion over five years to support access to high-quality, inclusive, affordable, and flexible programs and services for children under the age of six in Saskatchewan.
