Winnipeg, MB – The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, joined the Barangay Canada vodcast for a special update during her visit to Winnipeg today. Minister Sudds unveiled a major initiative—creating more than 700 new affordable child care spaces across Manitoba, including dedicated spots for health care workers and post-secondary institutions. She also announced new supports for early childhood educators, aiming to attract and retain professionals in the sector.
New Child Care Spaces in Health Care Facilities and Campuses
Minister Sudds emphasized that 324 of the new spaces will be in health care facilities, designed to support health care workers, many of whom are Filipino, by providing child care options within hospitals and clinics.
“If you can imagine, if you’re a nurse or a doctor working in a hospital, you have access—you can bring your child right to your workplace and have care on-site,” said Minister Sudds.
Additionally, 384 new spaces will be created in collaboration with public school divisions and post-secondary institutions to serve students and staff who need child care on campus. The goal is to make child care more accessible for parents pursuing education or working in academic institutions.
Supporting Early Childhood Educators
The expansion of child care services requires a growing workforce of qualified early childhood educators (ECEs). Minister Sudds announced a $5,000 tuition reimbursement program to help students pursuing early childhood education, removing financial barriers to entering the profession.
“Across the country, we’ve now seen over 50,000 new child care spaces created. But that comes with the need to invest in the workforce,” she explained. “Our agreement with Manitoba ensures wage increases for ECEs and removes tuition barriers for those wanting to enter the field.”
Investments in Training and Indigenous & Newcomer Support
Beyond tuition support, the federal and provincial governments are investing in specialized training programs for ECEs. This includes:
- Funding for the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) to train and employ up to 50 Ukrainian newcomers in the child care sector.
- Support for Urban Circle Training Centre, which will help 30 Indigenous students enter the profession.
- Outdoor Early Childhood Education Grants, providing up to $25,000 for child care centers to develop nature-based learning programs.
Making Child Care Affordable for Families
Minister Sudds reaffirmed the government’s commitment to $10-a-day child care, which has already been achieved in Manitoba. She highlighted how this initiative is helping families save nearly $3,000 per year per child and increasing women’s participation in the workforce.
“When we set out on this mission to create a national early learning and child care system, the goal was $10-a-day care for parents. Here in Manitoba, that’s already happened, thanks to our collaboration with the province,” she said.
A Transformative Investment in Families
The child care expansion in Manitoba is part of the Government of Canada’s broader commitment to creating 250,000 new regulated spaces by March 2026. Already, over 150,000 spaces have been announced nationwide, benefiting 750,000 children across Canada.
Minister Sudds concluded the interview by emphasizing the importance of meeting parents where they are—whether in hospitals, universities, or workplaces. She encouraged families, especially those in the Filipino community, to take advantage of the new spaces.