June 1, 2026

MBC News Host: Danielle Dufour

The Saskatchewan Government recently announced updates to Saskatchewan’s child care program with impacts to eligibility including age coverage, standard daily child care hours and operational funding effective July 1st to protect the long-term sustainability of subsidized child care systems.

“The changes that are coming in July 1st are really going to hamper the amount of spaces available, especially in rural Saskatchewan,” said Joan Pratchler, MLA Opposition Shadow Minister of early learning and child care.

Pratchler explained when a full-time child care space wasn’t being used during a day, the daycare could ‘stack’ or take on a casual or drop-in child to fill that open space. The government would allow them to have the $10 a day funding grant. With the changes, this is no longer the case.

“The most amount as of July 1st that a child care provider can charge if a casual wants to join is $10 a day, that means a dollar an hour now,” said Pratchler.

Those extra casual spaces offered funding that daycare centers could use to run their operations. Many operators will no longer offer drop-in child care as of July 1st because they won’t be compensated to the level they require to fully support a child being in the centre.

To read the full article visit MBCradio.com

June 1, 2026
MBC News Host: Danielle Dufour
The Saskatchewan Government recently announced updates to Saskatchewan&rsquo;s child care program with impacts to eligibility including age coverage, standard daily child care hours and operational funding effective July 1st to protect the long-term sustainability of subsidized child care systems.
&ldquo;The changes that are coming in July 1st are really going to hamper the amount of spaces available, especially in rural Saskatchewan,&rdquo; said Joan Pratchler, MLA Opposition Shadow Minister of early learning and child care.
Pratchler explained when a full-time child care space wasn&rsquo;t being used during a day, the daycare could &lsquo;stack&rsquo; or take on a casual or drop-in child to fill that open space. The government would allow them to have the $10 a day funding grant. With the changes, this is no longer the case.
&ldquo;The most amount as of July 1st that a child care provider can charge if a casual wants to join is $10 a day, that means a dollar an hour now,&rdquo; said Pratchler.
Those extra casual spaces offered funding that daycare centers could use to run their operations. Many operators will no longer offer drop-in child care as of July 1st because they won&rsquo;t be compensated to the level they require to fully support a child being in the centre.
To read the full article visit MBCradio.com

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