Its been over a year since the Federal Government released its affordability plan for Early Childhood Education and childcare facilities, a deal signed by the Sask. Party Government to improve access to pre school.

The billion-dollar agreement with the Federal Government is designed to make childcare more affordable, and more accessible by creating thousands of new childcare and early education spaces across the province.

President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Lori Johbs says this is a great first step that should be celebrated but the effort can’t stop here.

“The demand for affordable childcare spots still exceeds the supply. The system is fractured. There’s a shortage of early childcare educators and support staff, this needs to change. We need our provincial government to step up and to design a system and build a system that meets the needs of families in every corner of our province,” says Johb.

She says that while the province may now be able to open thousands of needed childcare facilities, the government needs to start planning how it’s going to staff these facilities.

It was said at the media briefing that the Sask. Party Government needs to focus on recruiting new educators, addressing the current job wage and turning it into a living wage, as well as creating and maintaining desirable work environments for ECEs and childcare providers.

*An earlier version of this story indicated the provincial government didn’t sign on to the education plan until recently.  That is not the case.  We apologize for this error*