Today, during Early Learning and Child Care Month, Education Minister Donna Harpauer announced that 13 communities have been allocated new licensed child care spaces as a result of the 2011-12 budget, which provided $2.1 million to develop 500 new child care spaces across Saskatchewan.
"Our province is growing, and the demand for child care spaces continues to increase as more parents enter the workforce or pursue post-secondary education," Harpauer said. "In response, the Government of Saskatchewan is continuing its record investment in early learning and child care by providing funding for 500 new child care spaces. With today's announcement, we have increased the number of licensed child care spaces in Saskatchewan by more than 36 per cent since November 2007."
More than 150 of the new spaces will support post-secondary students with children. Up to 110 of the new spaces have been allocated to serve University of Saskatchewan students. As well, students attending Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) will have access to 16 new spaces through the Saskatoon Tribal Council Early Learning Centre, and regional college students in Punnichy will have access to a new 30 space child care centre being developed by the Humboldt Co-operative Daycare.
"Our government wants to ensure that our post-secondary students are supported in their studies," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "These new spaces provide greater opportunity for our students. They will allow more students with children to focus on their studies and, subsequently, succeed in their careers and stay in Saskatchewan."
Text of the press release:
"Child care at the University of Saskatchewan is critical to the success of our students, staff and faculty - and therefore to our success as an institution," University of Saskatchewan vice-president of Finance and Resources Richard Florizone said. "This funding from our most significant partner - the Government of Saskatchewan - will help us to attract and retain the top students, faculty and staff needed to assure our long-term competitiveness and to improve the accessibility of post-secondary education for Aboriginal students."
New spaces will be developed in Saskatoon, Broadview, Wynyard, Stoughton, Estevan, Kindersley, Kelliher, Punnichy, Rocanville, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Spiritwood and Swift Current.
Over the past three and a half years, the Government of Saskatchewan has made a record investment in licensed child care, allocating funding for 3,435 new child care spaces to communities across the province.