The federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould and Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko has announced that the governments of Canada and Manitoba will be working to add more than 3,100 early learning and child-care expansion spaces.

The two governments are allocating $8.1 million toward their goal, and intend to have these spaces put into 177 facilities throughout Manitoba. As part of this initiative, $4.8 million will be invested in funding for 2,294 school-age child-care spaces, which will be designed for kids aged seven to twelve.

"The Manitoba government is committed to strengthening the full continuum of child-care services for Manitoba families," says Ewasko. "Supporting these newly funded child-care spaces will improve families’ access to quality, affordable child care, while also supporting the province’s post-COVID economic recovery."

On top of these amounts, an additional $3.3 million is being allocated from the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to provide 815 child-care spaces for infants and children under the age of seven. Manitoba will also be provided $1.2 billion in federal funding over a five-year plan regarding high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care.

"Every child deserves the best start in life," notes Gould. "The additional licensed child-care spaces allow more children and families in Manitoba to access high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care, no matter where they live."

For the full press release from the government of Manitoba, click here.