For six months, parents, operators and early childhood educators have been calling on the Minister of Education to sign the deal, warning that ongoing delays threaten the very survival of some daycare centres.
“We’re facing a childcare crisis,” said Joan Pratchler, NDP Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Learning. “Parents need reassurance and peace of mind that they’ll have a place to care for their children this fall. The longer the government stalls, the more families are left in limbo.”
"There is money on the table, and we need answers as to why they are not signing the extension — the livelihood of every family in Saskatchewan that uses childcare is at stake,” said Cara Werner with the Southeast Saskatchewan Directors Association. Her organization represents approximately 25 early learning and childcare centres in SE Saskatchewan.
“Sign the deal and come to the table ready to create a sustainable and equitable early learning and childcare sector,” Werner said. “The future of the sector is at stake. "
“Many daycare operators are starting to feel quite desperate, barely able to make ends meet,” said Cara Steiner, Executive Director of the Prairie Lily Early Learning Centres in Regina. “Without a new federal deal and new provincial funding formula, these businesses simply aren’t sustainable and many will be forced to close.”
Legacy daycare operators say that because provincial grants haven’t kept up with inflation, they need immediate emergency funding to cover operating costs that have sky-rocketed in recent years. They’ve been advocating for the province to create an equitable wage grid, pension and benefit program and an adequate recruitment and retention plan that will ensure that we have Early Childhood Educators trained and working within the sector for years to come. The NDP says this could be done while a new federal deal is being negotiated.
“Time is up. People are losing patience. Get moving already and sign the thing,” said Pratchler.
Pratcher says affordable childcare is an economic driver, particularly in rural communities. “If parents can’t find childcare or are forced to pay $800 or more a month, it doesn’t make economic sense for many parents — particularly mothers — to work. Affordable childcare isn’t just social policy. It’s good economic policy.”
The NDP has written to the Minister again, calling on the Sask. Party government to act immediately to protect childcare spaces, support early learning educators, and give Saskatchewan families the stability they deserve.
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