Child care sector expects multi-year funding to be in March 22 federal budget
OTTAWA — Child care advocates have been told to expect a long-term funding commitment in next week’s budget, sources say, but some are already wondering whether it’s wise of the federal government to promise years of cash without first securing conditions from the provinces.
It’s not clear just how much money is at stake, but those in the sector with knowledge of the government’s thinking expect that the March 22 budget will extend the $500 million pledged for fiscal 2017-18 into an annual commitment over 10 years.
Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because details of the budget have not yet been publicly released, have been told the money is coming from the federal social infrastructure fund.
Spending $500 million a year would amount to a commitment of about $5 billion in child care funding over the decade that the fund is available.