Province increases child-care funding
Supporting Island families -
Jalene Cormier says getting more help with child care will make a big difference for her family.
An increase in the province’s child-care subsidy program of $300,000 will benefit more than 1,600 Island children. Rates for before and after-school child care and private sitters will increase, and the monthly subsidy will increase by $120 for eligible families whose income is below a particular level.
“As a single mother starting a new career, I’m so happy about the increases in rates for families and to have more money in my pocket for my children and other needs,” said Cormier of Summerside. “This is a fantastic program.”
The paperwork required to confirm income has also been simplified for parents and child care centres. Parents now need to only confirm income once a year instead of every month.
“Families and child care providers told us to focus on increasing rates and streamlining the paper work for parents,” said Family and Human Services Minister Tina Mundy. “I am very pleased to act on these recommendations and also deliver on government’s commitment to invest $300,000 in this valuable program to help Island families access affordable, high quality child care.”
“This is a positive advance in expanding affordable access to child care across the province and in creating a much more efficient reporting process,” said Early Childhood Development Association of PEI, executive director, Sonya Hooper. “We have been working closely with government on reviewing the program and we are extremely happy to see action on our primary requests.”
This child care subsidy rate increase will complement enhancements coming later this year related to federal funding to Education, Early Learning and Culture to increase access to the child care subsidy program for some pre-school children whose parents are not in the workforce or in training.
Although the child care subsidy rate increases took effect September 1, retroactive payments will be made to eligible Islanders once the necessary system changes are completed.
Media contact:
Darlene Gillis