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The federal and Saskatchewan governments have reached an agreement to extend the province’s $10-a-day child care agreement for another five years, starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The announcement was made at the YMCA in Regina on Thursday by Saskatchewan Education Minister Everett Hindley and Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development.
The extension includes a five-year renewal of the Canada-Saskatchewan Child Care and Early Learning Agreement, and the bilateral agreement, beginning in 2026-27.
What’s in the extension?
The agreement includes a federal commitment of $1.6 billion over several years, with a three percent annual increase in core funding starting in 2027-28.
The agreement expands the age of eligibility so that children who turn six while attending kindergarten can continue to receive care for $10 a day through the school year.
“I think we’re going in the right direction. Certainly including children over the age of six in the agreement will be a great thing,” said Cara Werner, director of Southeast Childcare Now.
It also includes a one-year extension of the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, through 2026-27.
Hindley said the new agreement will allow some for-profit daycares to access the subsidized $10-a-day program.
“A very small portion of the sector would be for-profit,” Hindley said. “What it means is that for-profit operators would have to be subject to the same regulations and provisions of the agreements in order to qualify.”
Werner said he is waiting for details to see exactly how much money is allocated to for-profit organizations.
“Everything is up in the air. All we know is that part of that $1.6 billion will be allocated to for-profit centers,” he said.
Advocates have been calling for an equitable funding model for years and hope the agreement will lead to a permanent pay schedule for daycare workers, she said.
“So having that funding model and that salary table will be a big step forward.”
The province said it is committed to attracting, retaining and growing a strong, skilled workforce of early childhood education professionals. From April 2021 to September 2025, more than $171 million has been allocated to salary improvements, training and professional development, according to a press release.
That includes salary supplements of up to $8.85 per hour for certified early childhood educators, free training programs, and grants and scholarships aimed at recruitment and retention.
Belanger said since 2021, more than 23,000 new childcare spaces have been announced in Saskatchewan.
“For many families, access to child care has been a significant barrier,” she said. “Each new space means more families have the option to balance work, school and family life.”
Daycare centers and parents relieved
Regina YMCA CEO Steve Compton said he welcomes it.
“We are committed to high-quality, accessible, inclusive child care,” Compton said in the announcement.
A Saskatoon daycare owner said the announcement is a relief for families and operators.
“This is very exciting news,” said Gurmeet Dhindsad, who runs the Sweet Second Home daycare in Saskatoon.
“Parents are getting help, and we’re getting help, too. Without this, parents with two or three kids wouldn’t be able to pay $2,000 or $3,000 in fees, and we would lose business.”
Regina mother Shayla Dietrich, who has two children in subsidized daycare, previously told CBC she is “relieved and happy” the province got the deal.
“As a mother, I am 100 percent, very excited, very relieved,” she said in an interview. “As a working mom, there’s always a little bit of stress hanging over your head, like: Is this coming? Is this something I have to deal with? Can my family handle it?”
