Education and Early Childhood Development
May 7, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sandy Collins, Acting Minister of Early Childhood Development:

Minister Provides Update on the New Operating Grant Program

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to provide an update on the voluntary Operating Grant Program which was launched this past December.

Providing quality, affordable and sufficient regulated child care in this province is a priority for this government and we honour that commitment through a number of programs under our 10-year child care strategy, Caring for Our Future. One of these programs is the voluntary Operating Grant Program.

Mr. Speaker, the voluntary Operating Grant Program provides annual operating grants to eligible regulated child care centres to help offset some of the costs associated with providing child care. I am pleased to tell you that since this program was launched just five months ago, we have had an encouraging uptake from licensed child care centres from all regions of the province. As of today, we have received a total of 42 applications which represents almost 1,400 more affordable child care spaces. Through Budget 2015, an additional $1 million has been allocated to this program bringing this year's total investment to $10.7 million.

Centres that utilize the voluntary Operating Grant Program ensure that parents have access to more affordable regulated child care spaces. Parents of children at participating licensed child care centres will see their fees reduced to current daily subsidy rates. These rates would be set at $44 per day for infants, $33 per day for toddlers, $30 per day for children aged three to 12 years in full day care, and $14 per day for afterschool programs for children up to 12 years of age.

Mr. Speaker, we are constantly monitoring the Operating Grant Program for potential areas of improvement and are making an effort to engage child care centres throughout the province. In March, our staff held a session in Bay Roberts and there will be other sessions held in the coming months.

I encourage all licensed child care centres to consider the voluntary Operating Grant Program and talk to our knowledgeable staff about how they can avail of this opportunity and work with the department to help ensure that parents who choose regulated child care in this province will receive quality, sufficient and affordable services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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2015 05 07                              1:50 p.m.