Premier Greg Selinger applauded plans today to expand the Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, saying the expansion will ensure children in this Eastman community have a safe, welcoming, nurturing environment in which to learn, grow and play.
“I am pleased to see these plans to expand another child-care centre through our commitment to children and working families with the Family Choices five-year strategy,” said Selinger. “This project demonstrates our commitment to children and to parents, and will make a difference to the community and surrounding area.”
With provincial funding of up to $316,000, the Happy Feet Early Learning Centre will relocate and expand its facility. This project will significantly expand capacity and add up to 40 new full-time child care spaces. Happy Feet currently offers care for 32 preschool-aged children.
“On behalf of Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, I would like to thank Premier Greg Selinger and the Manitoba government for recognizing and spotlighting the need for child care in our province,” said Wendy Tildsley, Happy Feet Early Learning Centre board chair. “Our young children are our future and we thank you for the financial assistance in rebuilding and expanding our day care in Steinbach so we can get them off to a great start.”
Budget 2010 committed up to $19 million more for new child-care centres, hundreds more spaces, the phasing in of a centralized online registry and a pension plan for a stronger workforce, said Selinger.
The premier said investments in child care this fiscal year mean:
• Eight new child-care centres. With a target of 35 new sites by 2013, 29 are in various states of development including at least eight which were newly funded this fiscal year.
• 650 more child-care spaces to be funded. With a target of 6,500 more funded spaces by 2013, at least 650 will be committed to this fiscal year on top of 500 in 2009 and 2,350 in 2008.
• Online child-care registry. This fall, the phase-in of Canada’s first province-wide online registry will be launched in the Brandon area to provide an accurate account of families seeking spaces and a straightforward registration process.
• Greater workforce stability. A defined contribution pension plan for child-care workers, the first province-wide plan outside Quebec, will be launched this fall to strengthen the retention component of the workforce stability strategy introduced in November 2008.
A full copy of the Family Choices strategy is available at www.manitoba.ca/childcare.
Today’s announcement is part of the province’s ALL Aboard poverty-reduction strategy.
