Unifor welcomes more affordable child care for working families in New Brunswick
MONCTON, NB, Jan. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes the New Brunswick government's latest move to make childcare more affordable and accessible for working parents.
"This is a great step towards making childcare more affordable for working parents," said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director. "This is also important to advancing women's equality and enabling women to participate more fully in the labour force."
Today the government announced that families won't pay more than 20 per cent of their income on child care for children under five.
Premier Brian Gallant announced a new low-fee policy that includes a sliding scale that depends on income and the number of children per household. For example a family earning $80,000 a year with an infant and a preschooler would be entitled to a subsidy of $2,700.
The subsidized childcare will be offered at newly designated New Brunswick Early Learning Centres.
The province hopes at least 200 existing daycares will apply for grants to transform into Designated Early Learning Centers to offer accessible and inclusive subsidized care, as part of a $71 million dollar provincial and federal investment.
"This is a good thing to provide a foundation for access which is the only way to address the increasing demand for affordable, high-quality child care services," said Payne.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor
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