Saskatchewan Updates Childcare Fees Under $10-a-Day Programme

Saskatchewan fine-tuned its $10-a-day childcare programme with a fee adjustment effective July 1, 2026, addressing wage gaps between new and established childcare operators. A five-year extension agreement, effective April 1, 2026, supports the continuation of the $10 a day child care program.

Fee Adjustment Details

Effective July 1, 2026, child care fee schedules for facilities with the lowest fees (in the bottom 20 per cent) will be increased to support competitive fees across the sector, addressing the funding gap between new and legacy operators. The adjustment is intended to attract and retain early childhood educators in a sector facing persistent staffing shortages.

Eligibility and Coverage

With $10 a day child care, families of children under six pay their licensed child care provider $10 per day, or $217.50 per month, and to support the lower parent fees, regulated child care providers receive Parent Fee Reduction Grants from the government through the agreement to make up for the total fees charged by the child care provider. Children who turn six on or after April 1, 2026 remain eligible for $10 a day child care until the end of the Kindergarten school year in June or until they turn seven, whichever comes first.

What This Means for Newcomer Families

If you're settling in Saskatchewan with young children, the $10-a-day programme—now extended through 2031—is one of the country's most affordable childcare options. The fee adjustment targets sustainability, meaning the programme is less likely to shrink or disappear. Your monthly cost remains $217.50 per child under six in participating licensed childcare. Speak to your local child-care intake office or visit the Government of Saskatchewan website to find a provider and apply.

Sources

• Government of Saskatchewan — Child Care Updates