The provincial and federal governments are coming together to invest 28.9 million to develop 2,197 child care spaces in regulated care centres across the province.

A media release from the province stated that “of the 2,197 newly funded spaces, 1,599 spaces have been allocated to specific organizations who will either build new facilities or add new spaces within their existing facilities.

Among the 1,599 are 90 spaces for Regina’s new Cowessess First Nation Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge, Ltd., 40 spaces for new development Growing Together Learning Centre and 90 spaces at an additional site for Park Play Community Programs Inc.

The remaining 598 funded spaces will be allocated to organizations later this year through an application process.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement signed in August 2021 provides nearly $1.1 billion over five years for child care in Saskatchewan.

A release said “the additional spaces are a part of the shared goal of the Governments of Saskatchewan and Canada to create 28,000 new child care spaces in the province by the end of March 2026.

Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould said in the release that  “(t)hese additional licensed child care spaces will allow more children and families across the province to access high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care.”