EXCERPTS:
Up to 1,000 New Spaces Available This Year
Budget 2013 will give families better access to quality child care by opening up to 1,000 new spaces over the next year, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
"Our government is focused on what matters most to Manitoba families and for growing families that includes better access to good quality child care," said Selinger. "More child care spaces will support parents while they are at work and help prepare young children to succeed at school, while also creating jobs for qualified early childhood educators across the province."
Up to 1,000 spaces are expected to open over the next year in 26 new and expanded child-care centres across the province. The premier noted this will complete the Manitoba government's five‑year strategy to fund 6,500 more spaces and begin a new plan for an additional 2,000 child-care spaces.
The Manitoba government is also investing up to $5 million to build or expand child-care centres this year. Building more child-care centres is part of the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan, which will also help build the province's critical infrastructure priorities such as flood protection, roads, schools and hospitals, said Selinger.
"While the global economic outlook remains uncertain, our government is investing in critical infrastructure projects like new child-care centres to help Manitoba's economy continue to grow," said Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard. "With a growing population, Manitoba needs more child-care centres, as well as better roads, newer hospitals, more schools and protection against the threat of more frequent flooding."
Budget 2013 also invests an additional $4 million to open new child-care spaces as well as provide a one per cent funding increase to existing child care centres. The province is also taking steps to help recruit and retain more early childhood educators and improve the quality of child care for young children, said Howard.
"As a parent, it's comforting to know that my children are being taken care of in a warm, nurturing environment by knowledgeable, caring staff," said Nicole Dubois, board chair, Morrow Avenue Child Care Centre. "I am glad this commitment will mean more families will have access to centres like this one all across the province."