Families need significant increase in child care spaces province-wide

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

“Today’s report shows what every parent of young children already knows: Nova Scotia does not have enough child-care spaces. According to the report, the government has only created a third of the 2026 target of 9,485 that was announced in the federal-provincial childcare agreement.

While this government falls further behind on creating much-needed spaces, families are stuck calling dozens of daycares, waiting on lists, and left in limbo as they try to plan their futures. Those lucky enough to find a spot spend hundreds of dollars more every single month than families in most parts of Canada and double what parents in Charlottetown and St. John’s pay.

Child care must be accessible, reliable, and affordable. Instead, parents are left to struggle while the Houston government drags its feet. We need urgent action to open more spaces and ensure families can actually afford them.”

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