Co-operatives First helping entrepreneurs start new daycares in Saskatchewan

Entrepreneurship expert, Heather Hallgrimson said the waiting lists for daycares in the province have been growing since the daily fee reduction announcement.

Earlier this month, the Saskatchewan government announced reductions for parent fees for regulated child care in the province to $10 a day starting April 1, 2023.

Families will be saving an average of $395 to $573 per month compared to current fees.

Since the announcement, the waiting lists for daycares in the province have been growing and the provincial government plans to create 28,000 new spaces to meet demand by 2026.

This will be funded by $1.1 billion from the federal government over the next five years.

“This is an incredible and transformational time for early learning and childcare in our province,” said Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association Executive Director Georgia Lavallee in a previous release.

“Not only will this agreement support children and families in Saskatchewan, but it will also support Early Childhood Educators. The agreement will promote economic growth, empower women in the workforce, and nurture better outcomes for children.”

Heather Hallgrimson, director of entrepreneurship with Co-operatives First said they look forward to taking advantage of the recent announcements.

“What’s really great about this is when people are committing to creating new daycare spaces, there are more funds available than ever,” said Hallgrimson. “There’s also a high priority on creating a lot of spaces.”