Saskatchewan is to extend its child-care agreement with the federal government, Premier Scott Moe said Wednesday.
Moe told the legislative assembly his government will sign on to the deal Friday.
“(We’re) providing certainty for those child-care operators, the certainty for families with young children,” he said after facing questions from the Opposition NDP about affordability.
“(The agreement) is going to be in place for years to come.”
Saskatchewan signed on to the deal in 2021, with Ottawa providing $1.1 billion over five years for $10-a-day child care.
The federal government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new deal.
Ottawa’s agreement with Saskatchewan was set to expire early next year. As the deadline approached, operators and families raised concerns that no deal would result in daycare closures and higher costs for caregivers.
Education Minister Everett Hindley later told reporters more details would be announced Friday when federal Families Minister Patty Hajdu is expected to be in Regina.
Hindley said the contract is to be extended for another five years.
“I would say you don’t get everything that you’re asking for, but I think we’ve made some significant headway,” he said. “This has been a priority for us as a government.”
NDP education critic Matt Love accused the province of taking too long to sign on to the extension.
“(Moe) has a lot to answer to those families and child-care providers that they’ve left waiting,” he said. “We want to see a deal that’s going to ensure that child-care providers have a model that’s sustainable for them.”
Alberta remains the only other province that has not signed an extension.
–The Canadian Press–
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