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The federal and Saskatchewan governments have reached a deal to extend the province’s $10-a-day child-care agreement for another five years, beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The announcement was made at the YMCA in Regina 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 Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, and the bilateral agreement, starting in 2026-27.
What’s in the extension?
The deal includes a federal commitment of $1.6 billion over multiple years, with a three-per-cent annual increase in base funding starting in 2027-28.
The deal expands the age eligibility so children who turn six while attending kindergarten can continue to receive $10-a-day care until the school year.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction. Certainly having children over six included in the deal is going to 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 let some for-profit daycares to access to 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 fall under the same regulations and provisions of the agreements in order to qualify.”
Werner said she’s waiting for details to see exactly how much money is allotted to for-profits.
“Everything is kind of up in the air. All we know is that part of that $1.6 billion will be allocated to the for-profit centres,” she said.
Advocates have been calling for an equitable funding model for years, and are hoping the deal leads to a permanent wage grid for day-care workers, she said.
“So having that funding model, having that wage grid in place is going to be a huge step forward.”
The province said it’s committed to attracting, retaining and growing a strong and skilled workforce of early childhood education professionals. From April 2021 to September 2025, over $171 million has gone toward wage enhancements, training and professional development, according to a news release.
That includes wage supplements of up to $8.85 per hour for certified early childhood educators, tuition-free training programs, grants and bursaries aimed at recruitment and retention.
Belanger said more than 23,000 new child-care spaces have been announced in Saskatchewan since 2021.
“For too many families, access to child care has been a major barrier,” he said. “Each new space means more families have a choice in how they balance work, school and home life.”
Daycares and parents relieved
Regina YMCA CEO Steve Compton said he welcomes it.
“We are committed to high-quality, accessible and inclusive childcare,” Compton said at the announcement.
A Saskatoon daycare owner said the announcement is a relief for families and operators.
“It’s very exciting news,” said Gurmeet Dhindsad, who runs Sweet Second Home daycare in Saskatoon.
“Parents are getting relief, and we are also getting relief. Without this, parents with two or three kids could not afford $2,000 or $3,000 in fees, and we would lose business.”
Regina mom Shayla Dietrich, who has two children in subsidized daycare, previously told CBC that she is “relieved and glad” that the province has secured the agreement.
“As a parent, like 100 per cent, like very excited, very relieved,” she said in an interview. “As a working mom, there’s always that stress over your head a little bit, like is this coming? Is this something I have to deal with? Can my family manage that?”
