November 24, 2008
Empty Classrooms Put To Good Use With Creation Of 10 Child-Care Centres: Bjornson, Mackintosh
– – –Province Funds 2,350 New Child-care Spaces, Unveils Workforce Stability Strategy
Manitoba is well on its way to meeting its goal of funding 6,500 more child-care spaces under the five-year Family Choices strategy, while ensuring schools with declining enrolment remain active in their communities, Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson and Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
New Child-care Centres in Schools
“There’s a natural connection between day-care centres and schools, whether it’s elementary, middle or high school,” said Bjornson. “Investing in additional child-care spaces in schools enhances early learning opportunities for children and provides convenient and cost-effective child-care options for parents.”
Manitoba has identified 10 schools that have surplus space that can be modified for child-care centres, developing 343 spaces at a cost of $1.5 million. These are the first of up to 35 new program sites committed to under Family Choices.
Newly Funded Child-care Spaces
“We promised parents we would help to ensure they had choices when it came to child care and we are committed to doing that,” said Mackintosh. “We are providing funding for 2,350 child-care spaces this year, putting us well on our way to the commitment of 6,500 spaces over the next five years.”
Of the newly funded spaces, 1,077 are also newly created spaces. The province will work with communities across Manitoba to expand capacity based on the needs of each area.
Manitoba has also enhanced funding for 100 nursery school spaces to improve access for low-income families with children attending nursery school.
Launching Family Choices Workforce Stability Strategy
Even with 1,300 more child-care workers than in 2004, the province recognizes that with the additional spaces there will also be a need for more and an aggressive recruitment and retention plan is underway, Mackintosh said. It features:
· Wage increase – Ensuring Manitoba child-care workers remain among the highest paid in the country by increasing remuneration by 20 per cent over five years, starting with a three per cent increase in July including a new pension plan.
· Minimum base wage – Implementing a wage adjustment fund this year for front-line child-care staff, the first step toward establishing a minimum base wage.
· Increased training – Increasing the annual training grant to $350 from $250 in early 2009 to help child-care assistants and home child-care providers. For the first time, this grant also will be extended to Early Childhood Educator II’s who want to upgrade their credentials.
· Workplace training – Expanding the successful workplace training model with another 25 seats at Assiniboine Community College’s Brandon site in January 2009.
· Expanded programs – Working with the community to expand successful early childhood educator training programs, such as the innovative SISTARs project that helps people leave welfare and become early childhood educators.
· Wage subsidies – Providing wage subsidies through Manitoba Works! to employ more workers who receive social assistance.
· Public awareness campaign – Launching a new public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of working in the field.
· Scholarship fund – Creating the Family Choices Scholarship Fund starting as an incentive in high schools in areas with the greatest labour shortage.
· Apprenticeship program – Expanding the training options by piloting a professional stream of apprenticeship for early learning and child-care workers.
· Fast-tracking licences – Fast tracking the licensing of early childhood educators, such as those on maternity leave who want to establish child-care spaces in their home.
· Director skills training – Funding for director skills training, delivered in partnership with the Manitoba Child Care Association, to help build better work environments.
More information about Family Choices is available at www.gov.mb.ca/familychoices.
- 30 -
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Capital Grants Projects In Surplus School Space - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2008/2008nov./FamilyChoices.EC.FS.doc