Following weeks of conversations with families, educators, providers, and community members, CUPE Saskatchewan and Child Care Now are bringing their province-wide child care town hall series to Prince Albert tonight.
Concerns about affordability, access to spaces, workforce shortages, and the long-term stability of Saskatchewan’s child care system have been raised at town halls held in communities across the province.
“The Sask. Party has cut tuition-free training for ECEs II and III, frozen the creation of new child care spaces, and introduced new fees, essentially ending $10 a day child care,” said Kent Peterson, President of CUPE Saskatchewan. “The Sask. Party must reverse these cuts because investing in child care isn’t just about helping families. It’s about strengthening Saskatchewan’s workforce, supporting Saskatchewan’s communities, and building a stronger future for our province.”
Prince Albert is the final stop in the series, which was launched to give families, child care workers, providers, and community members an opportunity to discuss the impact of the Sask. Party’s July 1 cuts and the future of child care in Saskatchewan.
“The Sask. Party’s decisions affect whether families can find care, whether educators choose to stay in the profession, and whether child care centres can continue serving their communities,” said Cara Werner, Chair of Child Care Now Saskatchewan. “We need a system that works for families, supports educators, and gives providers the stability they need to continue delivering high-quality care.”
Tonight’s town hall will take place at the Prince Albert Public Library, 125 12 Street East, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
CUPE Saskatchewan and Child Care Now are calling on the Sask. Party government to reverse the July 1 cuts, restore affordability, expand child care spaces, conduct a full review of the funding model, and invest in a strong child care workforce.
CUPE is Saskatchewan’s child care union, representing more than 300 child care workers across the province and more than 12,000 across the country.