‘Very confident we’ll get a new deal signed’: Sask. education minister on $10-a-day childcare agreement

Saskatchewan Education Minister Everett Hindley says he’s confident the province will get an extension signed before the end of the calendar year.

The current $10-a-day childcare agreement between Saskatchewan and the federal government is set to expire in March – but Saskatchewan Education Minister Everett Hindley says both sides are hard at work to come to an agreement on an extension.

“Our province is one of the few who have not signed an extension to this point,” Hindley explained Thursday on CTV Your Morning Saskatchewan.

“We as a provincial government want to make sure we’re putting Saskatchewan families first, and it’s important for us to secure a new agreement.”

Hindley says he reached out to Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu following the federal election, hoping to discuss the agreement.

Hindley recently had a virtual meeting with Hajdu, and says progress is being made.

“A few weeks ago, I received a letter from the Minister, saying she had instructed officials to begin negotiations with Saskatchewan, and I can confirm that has happened.”

The current agreement - which sees parents with children under the age of six paying $217.50 per month for full-time regulated childcare - is set to expire March 31, 2026.

Hindley says he believes a new deal will be reached before the deadline.

“Negotiations are very robust, and I’m confident we’ll get a new deal done not only before the current one expires, but by the end of the calendar year.”

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Hindley says the province is attempting to negotiate changes to the current agreement.

An example he cited is the age Saskatchewan children are no longer eligible for the $10-a-day childcare program. In this province that happens once they turn six, while it’s seven in Manitoba.

Saskatchewan’s Education Minister says the province’s biggest goal is making sure the program is sustainable long-term.

“It’s important for families across the province and across Canada. It allows them to get back into the work force.”

Hindley says the province had a target of adding 28,000 daycare spaces as part of the initial agreement in 2023. Since then, it’s achieved about 91% of that goal, with thousands of spaces still in development.