Provincial release:

Two new child-care programs announced today, December 5, will help create more child-care spaces in licensed not-for-profit child-care centres and family homes across the province.

These new programs will help new or existing not-for-profit centres complete minor renovations that will allow them to create new child-care spaces, as well as helping those interested in becoming family home providers with startup costs.

“Child-care spaces are in high demand across the province, and we need to be innovative in how we make child care more accessible,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “We have major infrastructure projects underway, but those take time. These new programs will encourage not-for-profit child-care providers to quickly renovate and expand, and will also provide startup costs to encourage and support new family home child-care providers.”

Under the Minor Infrastructure Program, existing or new licensed not-for-profit child-care providers can receive up to $250,000 for minor renovations that will increase child-care spaces, and up to another $25,000 for administrative expenses.

The Family Home Start-Up Program will provide up to $7,500 to help people open a regulated site. Startup costs may include minor home improvements or purchasing materials and supplies to meet regulations and create quality early learning and child-care environments for children.

These initiatives are part of the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which supports the child-care system so all families have access to affordable, high-quality and inclusive care when and where they need it.

Quotes:

Children, no matter where they live, should have access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care. We cannot succeed in building a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system without creating more child-care spaces. These new programs in Nova Scotia will help us reach our goal of creating 9,500 new spaces in the province and 250,000 new spaces across Canada. I look forward to continuing to work with all provinces and territories in growing the child-care system across the country.Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

I believe this initiative will help eliminate barriers due to the cost of setting up a new family home that meets all licensing requirements, and it will be a great incentive in recruiting new providers. With new providers, more families will have access to a great supportive program in their community and enjoy the benefits of the Canada-wide parent fee reduction program, as well as subsidy.Lea Anne Joudrie, Family Home Child Care Director, Jane Norman College, Truro

Based on my experience getting my daycare up and running and the costs associated with creating more spaces, I think this program will make a real difference. Centres need appropriate financial support to renovate, especially in this economic climate. We need more spaces, in more communities, and I look forward to seeing how the Minor Infrastructure Program will help us get thereJigisha Patel, Director, Bayview Child Development Centre, Port Hood

Quick Facts:

• applications for the Minor Infrastructure Program and the Family Home Start-Up Program will open in January; more information about the programs will be online December 11
• these programs represent a total investment of $11 million from the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement – a five-year, $605-million agreement to transform the delivery of early learning and child care in Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia has increased its investment in early learning and child care by $83 million, for a total investment of $277 million in 2023

Additional Resources:

More information on early learning and child care is available at: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/

To receive regular updates about childcare transformation in Nova Scotia via newsletter: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/latest-news