Calls grow for Saskatchewan to sign $10-a-day childcare agreement

Advocacy groups, parents, and early childhood educators are urging the Saskatchewan government to sign the federal $10-a-day childcare agreement, citing concerns about affordability and access to childcare across the province.

Joan Pratchler, the Sask NDP’s Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Learning, joined families and childcare providers at a press conference to emphasize the importance of finalizing the deal.

“This agreement should have been signed weeks ago,” said Pratchler. “We’ve heard from so many parents, especially in rural areas, about how essential childcare is. Moms and dads can’t go to work in the hospital or the potash mine if no one is there to watch their kids.” 

The federal government recently renewed its funding commitment for another five years, and most provinces have signed on. Saskatchewan, however, remains one of the last holdouts. Without an agreement, advocates warn that parents could face increased childcare costs, reduced availability of spaces, and potential closures of childcare centres.

Luanne Ferner, a board member at the Prairie Playhouse Early Learning Centre in Sedley, highlighted the role childcare plays in supporting families and local economies.

“The impact would be devastating for local economies—job losses, reduced business activity, and, most critically, the loss of a service that helps parents, especially mothers, return to work,” said Ferner. “Childcare is essential to sustaining rural life, keeping schools open, businesses running, and communities thriving.” 

The Saskatchewan government has not yet provided a timeline for signing the agreement. In the past, the province has taken time to review federal funding programs before committing, including the national school food program and recent tariff discussions.

As discussions continue, parents and childcare providers are seeking clarity on whether Saskatchewan will sign the agreement and what the potential impacts could be for families across the province.