Saskatchewan and Manitoba have seen slower growth in regulated early childhood education and care spaces compared with other provinces, according to a new national report.
The Interim Space Statistics 2024 report from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit reveals that Saskatchewan added fewer than 1,900 new regulated spaces for children up to age 12 between 2019 and 2024, placing it among the provinces with the lowest increases. Manitoba’s growth was somewhat stronger, with more than 5,800 new spaces created during the same period.
By comparison, British Columbia added more than 54,000 spaces and Alberta nearly 36,000. Ontario led the country with over 76,000 new regulated spaces.
Saskatchewan currently has enough licensed child care spaces to cover 17 per cent of children aged zero to five, below the national average of 23 per cent. Manitoba’s coverage is slightly higher, nearing 20 per cent.
Both provinces are participants in the federal Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement, which aims to improve access and affordability through expanding spaces, wage enhancements, and capital funding. Saskatchewan plans to add 5,500 new spaces in the 2024-25 fiscal year through a mix of community and private operators, including home-based care.
The report notes that several provinces, including Saskatchewan and Manitoba, have introduced fee reductions or capped daily child care rates under $10 as part of the CWELCC agreements. Saskatchewan achieved its target average rate of $10-a-day regulated care by April 1.
While the interim data highlights slower growth in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, experts say long-term success depends on factors beyond space creation, such as workforce stability, training, infrastructure investment, and equitable access in rural and Indigenous communities.
The full Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada report is expected in December 2025, which will provide a more detailed analysis of provincial progress.
Comments