New Brunswick has released a new action plan aimed at strengthening the province’s early learning and child-care sector.
It comes as the province works toward reducing child-care fees at designated centres to an average of $10 per day by March 2026.
The three-year action plan outlines key goals and priorities for funding received under three federal agreements.
It outlines spending of more than $426 million in five areas: affordability, access, quality, inclusion, and reporting and administration.
“This action plan will support New Brunswick families and their young children as we bring affordable, inclusive, high-quality child care to all areas of the province,” said Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan.
“That being said, we know there is still more work to be done, and we are committed to continuing to improve learning environments for all our youngest learners.”
New Brunswick has already reduced daily out-of-pocket fees paid by families by 50 per cent, to an average of $12.82.
It has also committed to creating 3,400 additional spaces, predominantly to support not-for-profit and family home child care spaces. Additional spaces will be allocated to for-profit businesses, focusing on rural and francophone areas of the province.
“We are at the halfway mark of our plan to make $10-a-day child care a reality for families in New Brunswick,” said federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds.
“With this action plan, we have a clear path forward on how we will work together to create new child-care spots to reduce waitlists, cut costs for families and support the workforce.”
Over the course of five years, the federal government will provide nearly $492 million and the provincial government will contribute $53 million.
