More than $17 million for child care in new Brunswick, feds announce

Funding was announced Wednesday of $17.6 million dollars over the course of four years for child care in New Brunswick.

Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc made the announcement in Fredericton on behalf the federal government.

The funding is part of the government's Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, aimed at helping lower the cost of child care in Canada.

In New Brunswick, the goal is to build 3,400 new child care spaces by 2026, with emphasis on rural and remote locations, the announcement said.

Marci Ien, the federal minister for women and gender equality and youth, speaks at Wednesday's announcement about funding for child care. Not many details were released about where exactly the money will be used. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

The plan includes increased wages and training, as well as student loan forgiveness for early childhood educators who choose to work in rural areas, said Marci Ien, minister for women and gender equality and youth, who was also at Wednesday's announcement.

Cost often means women, who are often the primary caregiver in the home, have a harder time in the workforce, needing to choose between staying at home and taking care of their kids, Ien said.

"If women want a professional career, they should have a clear path to it, and affordable childcare helps pave the way," she said.

In 2022, Statistics Canada reported the cost of full-time childcare, for children up to the age of five, is an average of $7,790 per year. This total can vary greatly based on the age of the child, how many hours of care they need and the type of child care.

LeBlanc says this funding will mean a savings of $3,600 per child per year in New Brunswick.

Minister of Education Bill Hogan said there will be more information in a few weeks regarding where the spaces will be located and exactly how many will be created.