To help ease the financial pressures on families, especially on women, Budget 2020 will provide $25 a day child care beginning in January, 2021. The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was joined today by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, at New Dimensions Child Care Centre in St. John’s to provide details on the initiative.
More affordable child care allows more parents into the workplace, helps grow the economy, and helps ensure children receive the early learning, care and positive experiences that will benefit their lifelong learning.
The program will be delivered through the already established Operating Grant Program. Regulated child care services that participate in the program are provided a grant to offset the reduced fees they charge families. That grant amount will be increased to allow them to reduce their fees further and charge just $25 a day.
As part of the $25 a day child care program, the Operating Grant Program is being extended to regulated Family Child Care Homes. The department encourages those regulated centres that currently do not participate in the program to register, as well as unregulated providers that may wish to become regulated and join the Operating Grant Program. Information on how to register for the Program can be found here.
Budget 2020 provides $3 million for the current fiscal year, with a $12 million annual investment going forward to support this initiative.
Quotes
“Providing more affordable child care services is a priority and it was critical that this commitment be fulfilled as soon as possible. Providing $25 a day child care is an economic driver, supports young families and leads to a stronger and more stable workforce.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“This new initiative builds on the great strides we have made in reducing the cost of child care. Approximately 70 per cent of regulated child care services currently participate in the Operating Grant Program. The Program is now being extended to include regulated Family Child Care Homes that will also be able to reduce their fees and charge just $25 a day beginning in January 2021”.
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Education
“Affordable and accessible child care, coupled with investments in education and skills development, is paramount in a modern economy. These investments, and collaboration with our education partners, will contribute to a stronger economy today and into the future.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance
“New Dimensions, a not-for-profit child care centre, was established to positively contribute to the lives of children and families. The $25 a day child care initiative will help alleviate the financial pressures parents face providing early learning and child care for their children. Government’s support during COVID-19 and today’s announcement certainly demonstrates unwavering commitment to the importance of providing quality child care in this province.”
Janice Adams
Chair of the New Dimensions Child Care Board
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Learn more
Budget 2020: Today. Tomorrow. Together.
Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca
Marc Budgell
Finance
709-729-2477, 689-0430
marcbudgell@gov.nl.ca
Janice Adams
New Dimensions Child Care Centre
709-745-3692
newdimensionschild@gmail.com