Trudeau In Manitoba, To Announce $10-a-day Child Care, 3 Years Ahead Of National Target

The need for affordable child care in Manitoba is a pressing issue for families across the province. Many families struggle to find and afford quality child care, which can often result in parents having to choose between their careers and their children.

With the recent announcement of Manitoba achieving an average of $10-a-day regulated child care three years ahead of the national target, there is hope that families will no longer have to face such difficult decisions. Today in Winnipeg, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, today announced that Manitoba will achieve an average of $10-a-day regulated child care on April 2, 2023 – three years ahead of the national target. This milestone achievement could save families hundreds of dollars per child, per month on average.

“Reaching $10-a-day child care on average is a huge milestone achievement for families in Manitoba. It means hundreds of dollars per child back in the pockets of hard-working families every month, it means more jobs in early learning and child care, it means a stronger economy for Manitoba, and it means we’re giving every child the best possible start in life.”Said, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Affordable child care is crucial for families in Manitoba, as it allows parents to enter or re-enter the workforce and pursue their career goals. This, in turn, benefits the economy as a whole, as more parents are able to contribute to the workforce and generate income for their families. Without affordable child care, many families are unable to make ends meet and are forced to rely on government assistance, which can further strain the economy.

In addition to its economic benefits, affordable child care is also essential for ensuring that every child has access to the same opportunities and resources, regardless of their family’s income level. Early childhood education has been shown to significantly impact a child’s future success, and affordable child care can help ensure that all children receive the early education they need to thrive.

“Our government recognizes that in order for Manitobans to be able to participate in the workforce, upgrade their skills and training, support their families, and play an active role in the growth of our communities and economy, access to affordable and high-quality child care is essential.” Said Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba

However, child care costs are a major barrier for families, with many struggling to afford the high fees associated with quality child care. This has led to a shortage of available child care options as providers struggle to stay afloat while keeping fees low. As a result, many parents are forced to rely on informal or unregulated child care arrangements, which can be risky for both the child and the parent.

Nahanni Fontaine, NDP Families Critic, does have her concerns about the lack of adequate funding reaching the child care centres and calls on the premier to do more, stating: “Parents have heard this promise before, and the only thing it resulted in was chaos for child care centres and front line early childhood educators and higher fees for parents. The fact is without real increases to operating funding for child care centres, childcare will not improve–and Premier Stefanson has refused to do that. Why should parents trust her to deliver this time?”

Today’s announcement of Manitoba achieving an average of $10-a-day regulated child care next month is a positive step towards addressing the issue of affordable child care in the province. This milestone achievement could save families hundreds of dollars per child, per month on average, which can make a significant difference for families struggling to make ends meet.

The need for affordable child care in Manitoba is a crucial issue that affects families, the economy, and the future success of our children. The recent announcement of Manitoba achieving an average of $10-a-day regulated child care is a positive step towards addressing this issue, but it is important that real increases to operating funding for child care centres are made to ensure that this achievement can be sustained. With affordable child care, families can thrive, children can receive the education they need to succeed, and Manitoba can continue to grow and prosper.

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