Affordable childcare is a top priority for PSAC North. The union welcomes yesterday’s great news: The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of the Northwest Territories, Caroline Cochrane, announced an agreement that will support an average of $10‑a‑day childcare in the territory. This will be of great help to families of children, a huge step towards affordable Universal Childcare.
When implemented this plan will create 300 new licensed early learning and childcare spaces by the end of March 2026. With federal funding of over $51 million over the next five years, it’s anticipated that there will be a 50 per cent reduction in average fees for children under the age of six in licensed childcare by the end of 2022.
Earlier this year, the federal government reached similar agreement with the Yukon. It’s anticipated that an agreement will be reached with Nunavut early next year.
“This is great news for the North,” says Lorraine Rousseau, PSAC North Regional Executive Vice President. “I call on the Federal and Territorial governments to work closely with Indigenous stakeholders and communities in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut. Children in the North deserve affordable, high quality and culturally appropriate early learning.”