Child care in Nova Scotia remains unaffordable, out of reach: report

HALIFAX –Today, Paul Wozney, Official Opposition Critic for Education and Early Childhood Development, made the following statement in response to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ new report on child care:

“Parents in Nova Scotia are doing everything right – working, raising families, and trying to build a life – but for too many, the child-care system isn’t working for them. This report shows what we’ve been saying for years: child care remains unaffordable and out of reach.

Despite the Houston government’s big promises to reach $10-a-day child care by March, some families in Nova Scotia are still paying more than $35 a day – that’s over $8,000 a year. This is money parents could be using for groceries, rent, and keeping the lights on, instead of paying significantly more for child care than families in other Canadian provinces.

While parents are stretched thin, the Houston government is focused on public relations instead of what people need. Rather than focusing on real outcomes, this government is blurring the lines on how many new spaces they’ve actually created, ignoring the fact that more than 1,650 spaces have been lost in the last two years alone.

Nova Scotians deserve better. We need honest reporting, real investment, and a clear path forward to deliver affordable, reliable child care so families can plan their lives with confidence instead of uncertainty.”

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