News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

September 29, 2017

Province to Increase Operating Grants for Home-based Child Care

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More Operational Stability for Home-based Operators: Fielding

The Manitoba government is increasing annual operating grants for licensed, home-based child-care providers by $245,000 this fiscal year with additional increases in future years, Families Minister Scott Fielding announced today. 

“These funds will benefit more than 300 home-based, licensed child-care providers throughout the province with increases based on their licenced number and type of spaces,” said Fielding.  “This will help strengthen the stability of home-based operators and better support the creation of new spaces in homes in the future.” 

Fielding noted these additional funds are aimed at curbing the national decline in numbers of licenced, home-based child-care providers, as well as encouraging more providers to open such businesses. 

“This increase is important to licensed family child-care providers as it will help us to continue to provide quality care for children across Manitoba,” said Cindy Curry, owner of Children, Naturally Early Learning and Child Care in Portage la Prairie.  “I’m pleased to see this government recognize the important role family child care plays in providing options to parents in our province.” 

Fielding said the increased grant funding is the first step in fulfilling the government’s commitment to increase operating funding for licensed, family child-care home spaces. 

“Increasing this grant was a commitment providers have been waiting for,” said Pat Wege, executive director, Manitoba Child Care Association.  “These men and women open their homes and hearts and work long hours providing quality, nurturing care and early learning that supports children’s development and enables parents to work or attend school.  Improving the remuneration for providers is a step in the right direction and will help Manitoba recruit new and retain existing licensed providers and reduce wait times.” 

For more information on the Manitoba government’s Early Learning and Child Care Program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare/index.html

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