Province hoping to protect child-care system by slowing growth, redirecting funding

Saying it needs to take steps to protect the expanded child-care system, the Saskatchewan government is making some changes beginning in July to support the program’s long-term viability.

One of the main changes is putting the brakes on the expansion of spaces that has seen Saskatchewan come within 92 per cent of the target of 28,000 spaces set by Ottawa at the onset of the previous agreement. The number of spaces in the province has grown by 146 per cent since then.

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With another year to reach the target, the Saskatchewan government says it will focus development of new child-care spaces on areas with the greatest need.

Education Minister Everett Hindley said costs have increased as the system has expanded and federal funding isn’t enough to cover it, even under the new, five-year agreement for $10/day child care.

“While the new agreement includes a three per cent annual escalator beginning in 2027-2028, there is no increase in federal funding for Saskatchewan in the current 2026-2027 fiscal year,” Hindley told reporters on Thursday.

“In addition, the agreement includes a federal adjustment that calculates funding each year based on Saskatchewan’s growth and the population of young children relative to other provinces and territories. And as a result, even with the escalator in place, Saskatchewan may not necessarily see an overall increase in federal funding.”

Education Minister Everett Hindley says changes are being made in an effort to protect Saskatchewan’s expanded child-care system. (Geoff Smith/980 CJME)

Hindley said it’s difficult to work out an exact figure for how much more the province needs.

“The cost of everything has gone up, and that includes for child-care operators, whether it’s their overhead, whether it’s the food that they use to provide to their kids,” he said.

Sameema Haque, an assistant deputy minister of education, explained that the government will look at future requests by existing operators for more spaces.

“Is there a need? Is there full enrolment? Are there any spaces that are vacant in that community? Are there alternative spaces that are available?” she asked.

“We’d be looking at the individual circumstances of where spaces are needed so we best serve the community and the families in that community.”

Ten-hour child care becoming the standard

One of the changes taking effect in July is a standard 10-hour child-care day. The government said providers will have flexibility to charge for care that extends beyond that time.

“When you look at an average work day of eight hours, this gives some bump room on either side of that,” Haque said.

“I do know that there are some some workers that have extended shifts, and so those situations still exist. We are still committed to $10/day, so those additional fees that the operators may choose to charge, there are still guardrails that are placed on those fees.”

The province said it will also redirect some funding from tuition-free early childhood education training towards core operating costs. Level-one training and leadership development will be maintained.

Child-care facilities with the lowest fees will get larger grants to ensure funding is equitable, while a new framework sets out what additional fees a provider may charge for things like transportation and personal items, as well as late fees and administrative fees.

Providers will also be able to take in additional children who attend at different times and charge their families the $10 rate, but won’t receive a grant for enrolment beyond the total number of spaces.