SEDLEY — Rural municipal daycares are feeling stressed over the province still not extending the $10-a-day child care.
"For us, it is really concerning," said Kelsey Morrison, board chair of the Prairie Playhouse Early Learning Centre.
The centre, which will open next month in Sedley, banked on the expectation that Sask would sign onto the program, allowing the centre to continue receiving grants from the federal government.
"We received 300,000 to $400,000 from the government, with the rest of the roughly $800,000 to $900,000 costs of opening a new centre being sourced through a mortgage," said Morrison.
The mortgage the centre took out will take 15 years to pay off.
Despite raising some money through fundraisers, Morrison said their board and other rural municipal daycares are "on the edge of our seats."
Morrison said their centre would likely raise costs for child care and cut staff from fewer children attending the centre. And take other measures in response to no $10-a-day childcare.
Other rural daycares have indicated to Morrison a potential shutdown if the province doesn’t sign onto the deal when it expires in March 2026.
Previously, Minister of Education Everett Hindley said Sask. hasn’t signed onto the deal because "the dollars weren’t there to make sure that they [childcare centres] can keep their businesses viable."
Hindley indicated the province was looking to negotiate the funding received from the federal government.
"I'm not really sure that the reasons that he's provided are acceptable," said Morrison.
She noted Sask. and Alberta are the only two provinces/territories in Canada to not sign onto the deal.
Benefits of cheaper daycare
The cost difference for families on $10-a-day child care is substantial.
Under the program, families would pay roughly $215/month for full-time child care.
Meanwhile, Morrison said she pays $800/month for her child to attend private child care, while others pay upwards of $1,200/month.
With more affordable childcare spaces it creates jobs in the local economy.
"Our centre is expected to add around 10 jobs to the area," said Morrison.
New jobs can attract families to the area, helping keep rural municipalities from ending up deserted, she added. Sedley itself only has a population of roughly 365 people.
There are also benefits for children in child care.
"We ensure children are provided nutritious, healthy meals," she said.
Morrison also pointed out licensed childcare centres can ensure children are prepared to jump into kindergarten.
蘑菇视频短视频 reached out to the Ministry of Education for a response and will update an article when a statement is provided.
