The province is allocating nearly $19 million from the Federal Safe Restart Agreement for licensed Saskatchewan child care centres and homes, to help offset additional expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The intent is to provide targeted support to facilities that have been financially impacted by COVID-19. It is to help facilities with the costs of implementing additional safety measures and to allow for continued access to child care for parents and caregivers returning to work.

Two grants will be provided: a one-time targeted deficit support grant that will be provided to centres and homes that have experienced deficits, for a total of more than $8.3 million; and a one-time grant of $600 per space to all licensed child care centres and homes totaling nearly $10.6 million.

Since March 2020, even though some of the centres closed due to the pandemic, their operating grants continued to be provided by the Ministry of Education.

In December 2020, the Government of Saskatchewan provided licensed child care facilities a one-time $100/space grant for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies using the federal Safe Restart funding.

For centres that were designated to provide child care to those working or returning to work under the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, additional grants were provided.