Families across Nova Scotia will soon be paying less for child care as part of the government’s efforts to make life more affordable by reducing fees and improving access to affordable child care.
A $76-million contribution through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement will reduce child-care fees for Nova Scotians, effective December 31. Most families will see a decrease in fees, which follows a previous reduction in the spring. The result will be fees that are 50 per cent lower on average than in 2019 for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
“This is an incredibly important milestone on our journey to achieve more affordable and accessible childcare for families,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “We know that for many families, especially those with multiple children, child care is their single biggest monthly expense. Now more than ever, families need child care that is affordable and available when and where they need it. That is why we are transforming child care in Nova Scotia and providing greater financial stability for families.”
For example, the reduction will mean families with an infant in licensed child care will pay $23 less per day, savings that add up to about $500 a month and $6,000 a year.
About 3,000 families who use Nova Scotia’s Child Care Subsidy Program will see their fees reduced to zero.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement will achieve $10-a-day child care, on average, for families by March 31, 2026.
The funding announced today, November 28, is in addition to the early childhood educator wage package recently announced, which increased wages by up to 43 per cent, at a cost of about $100 million annually.
“Today’s announcement is a key step toward making regulated child care more affordable for families in Nova Scotia. Together with our partners in the provinces and territories, we will continue to work toward a better future for children, and families, across Canada.”
– Karina Gould, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“This is wonderful news for families. We know that the first five years of a child’s life is the most important developmental stage. Families being able to afford child care is amazing – this means more children will have the benefit of quality care and education at a young age.”
– Margo Thomas, Owner, Stepping Stone Preschool and Childcare Centre
“Access to inclusive, quality and affordable child care in Nova Scotia creates not only equality but equity for families and communities. This transformation is critical to the overall positive development of our children, economy and workforce stability. The reduced fee structure has already had a profound impact on our ability to continue working and contributing to the labour force as a two-parent working family.”
– Berin and Julie MacNabb, parents at Stepping Stone Preschool and Childcare Centre
Quick Facts:
— the fee reduction estimates in licensed, funded child-care centres and regulated family home child-care programs are based on 2019 average fees
— licensed centres that sign their amended annual funding agreement, which reflects the principles of the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, will be provided with full funding to offset the additional fee reduction
— regulated family home child-care programs will be provided with full funding to offset the additional fee reduction
— by the end of 2022, about 1,100 new child-care spaces are expected to have been created in licensed child-care centres and family child-care homes, and in the before and after school program
Additional Resources:
A breakdown of fee reduction amounts can be found at: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/families
To sign up for a newsletter on childcare: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/latest-news
Source: Release