The future of $10-a-day child care in Saskatchewan is unclear as the province has not renewed its agreement with the federal government. The federal program, which has saved families thousands of dollars annually, was extended for five years with $36.8 billion in funding. However, Saskatchewan has yet to sign on, putting funding for child care centers and wage top-ups for early childhood educators at risk.
Child care worker Michelle Jerg from Yorkton has spent years upgrading her education to qualify for the wage top-up. If the agreement is not renewed, she and many others may face wage cuts. “Child care costs have gone down, but the cost of everything else has gone up,” Jerg said. “Without funding, we may struggle to make ends meet.”
CUPE Saskatchewan and other child care advocates are calling on Premier Scott Moe to act immediately. Opposition critic Joan Pratchler criticized the government’s inaction, saying it ignored tariffs, rejected a national school food program, and is now failing to secure child care funding. Advocates wrote to Minister Jeremy Cockrill in February, but the province has yet to respond.
With the agreement set to expire in March 2026, families, workers, and communities are urging the government to renew the deal before child care centers and jobs are at risk.
