Premier Scott Moe of Saskatchewan has confirmed that the province will enter into a new agreement with the federal government to prolong the subsidized $10-a-day child care program. This agreement will secure funding for the program until March 2031. The Premier announced this development during a session of questioning on Wednesday.
The current five-year agreement, which covers subsidized daycare costs and salary enhancements for early childhood educators, was scheduled to expire in March 2026. Saskatchewan and Alberta are the only provinces that have not yet finalized the extension.
The uncertainty surrounding the agreement has been a source of stress for advocates, staff, and parents. However, the recent announcement has been met with immense relief. Regina resident Shayla Dietrich, a mother with two children benefiting from subsidized daycare, expressed her relief and gratitude towards the province for securing the agreement. She emphasized the significance of affordable child care as an issue of women’s equality, highlighting how it enables mothers to remain in the workforce without financial strain.
Nicole Wall, an early-childhood educator at Play & Discover Early Learning Centre in Regina, shared her excitement about the agreement, stating that it provides clarity and reassurance for child-care workers. The existing agreement includes wage enhancements linked to the $10-a-day program. Wall explained that without this agreement, educators risked losing $5 to $7 per hour, a situation that many, including herself, could not afford. She stressed the importance of these enhancements in retaining experienced staff in the industry.
Overall, the new agreement brings a sense of relief to both parents and child-care workers involved in the program.