Manitoba families with school-aged children in licensed, funded child-care programs are now paying $10 a day for care on non-school days, including holidays and in-service days, following a provincial government initiative announced by acting Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt.
The reduced fee, which took effect Dec. 8, is part of the government’s plan to make child care more affordable, Schmidt said. Previously, families could pay up to $20.80 a day for care during the approximately 73 non-school days each year.
“The need for affordable child care doesn’t stop on in-services and holidays,” Schmidt said. “By providing true $10-a-day care every day for school-aged children, we’re making Manitoba’s child-care system one of the most affordable in Canada.”
The initiative extends the Reduced Parent Fee Revenue Grant to cover non-school days for school-aged children and is funded entirely by the provincial government. The change comes just ahead of the winter holiday break, offering immediate savings to families during the season.
Michelle Pearson, a Winnipeg mother of two, said the reduced fees will make a significant difference. “In these challenging economic times, every dollar saved is important to our family,” said Pearson, whose children, Bodhi and Dylan, are eight and ten years old.
Schmidt said the $10-a-day initiative could save some families with two school-aged children about $140 over the winter break.
The fee reduction follows a commitment in the 2024 provincial budget to extend $10-a-day child care to school-aged children throughout the 2024-25 school year, ensuring consistent affordability for families across Manitoba.
“The holidays are a time to celebrate with your family, but for many parents, the costs can start to add up,” Schmidt said. “This is one way our government is lowering your bills.”