Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #07-101
May 24, 2007
Child Care Community To Benefit From $5 Million Over Next Five Years
WHITEHORSE - Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers today announced the government will increase funding to child care by $5 million over the next five years.
There will be $500,000 immediately put into improving wages and increasing the parent subsidy program. In the second year, $1 million will provide additional enhancements to these areas and provide an investment in training that will assist in the recruitment and retention of child care workers. In the third, fourth and fifth years, there will be additional funding of $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $1.2 million respectively, ultimately raising the government of Yukon's annual investment in child care to $6.5 million.
The minister said that the child care community has raised concerns regarding the difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff and the financial burdens faced by parents accessing child care services.
"The top priorities for them have been staff wages and decreasing the cost of child care for low income families. We are now able to further address both of those issues," Cathers said. "The extra funds will come with additional calls for accountability and reporting."
In addition, a one-time Child Care Capital Fund of $1.3 million has been established. This fund will focus on creating more spaces for children younger than 18 months, providing new spaces in Yukon where the supply is not adequate, and new spaces that better serve educational and cultural needs of parents and children.
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| Contact: | |
| Roxanne Vallevand Cabinet Communications 867-633-7949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Pat Living Communications, Health and Social Services 867-667-3673 patricia.living@gov.yk.ca |