Drop in Nova Scotia child-care fees ahead of schedule under national program

HALIFAX - Little one-care charges in Nova Scotia will drop by a mean of 25 per cent, retroactive to Jan. 1, which is forward of schedule beneath the settlement signed final summer season between the province and the federal authorities.

The early lower in charges will save dad and mom a mean of $200 a month for a toddler in care, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Tim Houston mentioned throughout a digital information convention on Friday.

In July, Nova Scotia turned the second province to signal onto the federal Liberals’ early studying and child-care settlement, the aim of which is to step by step decrease the price of little one care to $10 a day on common by 2026. Additionally it is supposed to chop charges by a mean of fifty per cent in Nova Scotia by the top of 2022.

Houston advised reporters the 2 governments felt an “urgency” to chop charges extra shortly for Nova Scotians.

“We perceive the significance of getting inexpensive, accessible little one care; it’s unimaginable to overstate it,” Houston mentioned.

“We’re on the appropriate path and we felt the urgency to go faster, to assist households faster.”

Trudeau and Houston mentioned dad and mom and caregivers can pay their present price till April 1, after they’ll obtain a cheque from their child-care suppliers for the fee discount from January to March, or obtain a credit score.

Dad and mom can count on an extra drop in charges nearer to the top of the 12 months, when the total 50 per cent discount will go into impact, Houston mentioned.

The prime minister mentioned his authorities had been planning to chop child-care prices for years, including that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of subsidizing the service for Canadians.

“Having children underfoot when (they’re) attempting to work just about was the factor that put it over the road for many individuals,” Trudeau mentioned.

Houston echoed that sentiment, including that entry to “high quality, inexpensive little one care” will assist handle little one poverty and assist dad and mom trying to get again into the workforce.

“At a time after we’re seeing our province and inhabitants soar and proceed to develop … we’re additionally seeing some labour gaps,” Houston mentioned. “So we want all fingers on deck working to construct up Nova Scotia.”

Trudeau and Houston mentioned the settlement would create 1,500 new not-for-profit child-care areas this fall, for a complete of 9,500 new areas by March 2026.

CUPE Nova Scotia president Nan McFadgen mentioned Friday in an announcement that the announcement was a great first step for kids and early childhood educators within the province. CUPE member Naomi Stewart, the union’s child-care sector co-ordinator, mentioned there may be nonetheless work to be performed to enhance working situations and wages for workers within the subject.

“Early childhood educators want the federal government to work as onerous for them as they've for fogeys … Our members are overworked and drained, and don’t obtain sufficient compensation for the necessary work they do,” Stewart mentioned in an announcement.

The federal authorities has signed offers with each province besides Ontario to carry down the price of little one care for kids beneath six years outdated, over a five-year interval.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 14, 2022.

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This story was produced with the monetary help of the Fb and Canadian Press Information Fellowship.