CUPE Saskatchewan and Child Care Now brought the conversation about the future of child care in Saskatchewan to Yorkton on October 1 as part of their ongoing series of public town halls across the province.
Ahead of the Yorkton town hall, CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson and Child Care Now Saskatchewan Chair Cara Werner spoke about the impact of the Sask. Party’s July 1 child care cuts and concerns they have been hearing from families, educators, providers, and community members across the province.
“The impact of these decisions extends far beyond individual families,” said Peterson. “When child care doesn’t work, our economy doesn’t work. Parents can’t get to their jobs, employers struggle to fill jobs, and communities struggle to grow.”
The Yorkton event followed town halls in Regina and Moose Jaw, where attendees raised concerns about affordability, access to spaces, workforce shortages, and the long-term sustainability of the child care system.
“What we’re hearing at these town halls is clear: people are worried about the future of child care,” said Werner. “The Sask. Party has restricted funding, halted tuition-free training opportunities for ECE II and III, rolled back child care expansion, and opened the door to new fees for families.”
The town hall took place on October 1 at St. Andrew’s United Church, 29 Smith Street East, Yorkton, beginning at 7 p.m. CST.
CUPE Saskatchewan and Child Care Now are calling on the Sask. Party government to reverse the July 1 cuts, restore affordability, expand child care spaces, conduct a full review of the funding model, and invest in a strong child care workforce.
