Province looking to create 9,500 new child-care spaces

The province has released expressions of intent (EOI) to Nova Scotia’s not-for-profit child-care operators and those delivering the Nova Scotia Before and After Program. The provincial government is asking them to indicate their interest in expanding, as it aims to create 9,500 new spaces for children under six, with a priority on communities where specific services are most needed.

This step comes as Nova Scotia moves to a 50 per cent reduction in child-care fees by the end of 2022 and a further reduction to $10 a day by March 31, 2026.

The EOI will help implement the agreement Nova Scotia signed with the federal government in July to transform Nova Scotia’s early learning and child-care system. The $605 million Canada-Nova Scotia CanadaWide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement will accomplish the following:

reduce child-care fees by an average of 50 per cent by Dec. 31, 2022

ensure child-care fees are, on average, $10 per day by March 31, 2026

create at least 9,500 new early learning and child-care spaces by March 31, 2026, including new spaces for infants and toddlers

enhance care options at schools for before and after school, prioritizing children aged five and under

Nova Scotia will introduce new funding models, reduced fees, a compensation framework for early childhood educators and a renewed subsidy program for families. Under the terms of the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Nova Scotia must create new spaces in not-forprofit, publicly funded childcare.

The province says it is committed to working with all existing for-profit or commercial child-care operators who want an opportunity to join the Canada-wide system through an expression-ofinterest process. All for-profit or commercial child-care programs that were licensed and provincially funded as of July 13, 2021, are able to take part in the new Canada-wide system, and receive funding to support items such as lower parent fees, as long as they follow the terms and conditions of the agreement.

This EOI process will serve as a first step for the for-profit or commercial child-care sector to understand and explore what it will mean to become part of the Canada-wide early learning and child-care system.