If you are trying to find a daycare for your child, forking over money to go on a wait-list will no longer be part of the process.

The government is eliminating registration and wait-list charges for all provincially run child-care programs.

At some daycares, the fees were totalling hundreds of dollars.

“We are transforming Nova Scotia’s child-care system and part of that transformation is ensuring we build family-centred practices,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “In the fall, I promised to end the practice of wait-list fees as part of our commitment to inclusive, accessible and affordable child care for families. I am very happy to say these extra fees will no longer be something parents have to worry about.”

In October, Druhan said daycares should not ask families for money to secure a spot on their waitlists, and this move follows through on her promise to end the practice.

Meantime, new funding arrangements will take place April 1 and will include a one-time grant to offset rising operating costs along with money for those delivering the Nova Scotia Before and After Program.

The grants total $9.7 million to cover these expenses.

Some other initiatives covered under the funding agreements include:
– additional funding to reflect minimum wage increases for entry-level, non-ECE (early childhood educator) staff
– increased funding for ECE wage increases, and for group benefits and a defined benefits pension plan for all staff working in provincially licensed and funded child care, announced in December 2023
– a requirement for operators to have property insurance.