The Quad Counties will soon have two new childcare centres.

Inverness Education Centre/Academy will have 104 spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

“Building a new childcare centre in partnership with the Inverness school means making childcare convenient and affordable for families,” said Kyle MacQuarrie, MLA for Inverness.

“This investment shows that our government understands that our community has struggled with access to childcare and that we are taking meaningful action to address it.”

Also, Fanning Education Centre/Canso Academy plans to open up 18 spaces for toddlers and preschoolers.

“Families in Canso need affordable childcare. In partnership with the Government of Nova Scotia, we’re creating spaces both close to home and close to parents’ workplaces. This saves time and money while ensuring children receive the best possible start in life,” says Anna Gainey, Canada’s Secretary of State for Children and Youth.

Both projects are a partnership between the Province and the Strait Regional Centre for Education.

They are part of provincial and federal expansion of access to childcare.

Nova Scotia signed a five-year extension worth more than $1 billion with the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and the Canada-Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

The extended agreements are set to be in place until March 31, 2031, which ensures predictable funding that will build upon the transformative progress to date.

Since 2021, the province has announced more than 8,900 new child-care spaces.