GOVERNMENT CELEBRATES FIRST ALLOCATION OF 1000 NEW CHILD CARE SPACES

Today, during Early Learning and Child Care Month, Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz celebrated the first provincial allocation of funding for new child care spaces to the Moose Jaw YMCA.

"In Saskatchewan we have an ever-increasing demand for early learning and child care as more parents want to find their place in the workforce, or pursue post-secondary education," Krawetz said. "This year we will be funding 1000 new child care spaces, bringing our total number of licensed spaces to 11,400 by the end of 2009-10. This is an investment of $4.22 million."

The Moose Jaw YMCA currently operates two centres, the Play ‘N' Learn, and a centre for young parents, located in A.E. Peacock Collegiate. With this new allocation, they will be opening up two new facilities with 70 and 50 spaces.

"We are very excited to be opening an additional two child care centres," Moose Jaw YMCA CEO Jeff Fox said. "The addition of the 120 spaces should alleviate a lot of the pressure centres are feeling to find room for parents who can't find care. Also we are creating 11 new permanent jobs and numerous construction positions. We are looking at properties on South Hill and in the North West Area of Moose Jaw. Both centres will be fully operational by March 31, 2010."

The remaining 880 spaces will be awarded to communities across Saskatchewan throughout the year, based on community readiness. This is a new process put in place to ensure communities will be able to open the spaces in the fiscal year they are allocated. Community organizations will be notified by the Ministry of Education as soon as new spaces are approved.

"We recognize the value of early learning and care opportunities for our youngest citizens in supporting positive social and emotional development, early literacy and school achievement," Krawetz said. "Today we are celebrating our investment in early learning and child care here in Moose Jaw. Quality early learning and child care is an investment in the future of our province."

Early learning and child care received an additional $1.2 million to support the training of early childhood educators and $375,000 for child care for children with exceptionally high diverse needs. Child care centres received a seven per cent annualized CBO lift in 2008-09 and an additional three per cent in 2009-10 to support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jacquie.mclean@gov.sk.ca