Released on May 12, 1997
Social Services Minister Lorne Calvert today officially recognized theimportance of quality child care and child care workers, by designating
May 11-17 as child care week in Saskatchewan.
"Our children are our greatest creation and our greatest resource,"
Calvert said. "We need to ensure that the care they receive assists
them in developing into strong physically, emotionally and
intellectually healthy adults."
The government has targeted more than $3.7 million to the enhancement
and expansion of child care services in Saskatchewan since 1992.
In the 1997/98 provincial budget, $150,000 was targeted for the
expansion of teen infant centres, $500,000 was dedicated to further
enhance the wages of child care workers and $1 million in one time
funding has been made available to renovate child care facilities and
upgrade equipment to enhance safety and quality in child care in
Saskatchewan.
"I am very proud of the work Saskatchewan people have done together to
develop and enhance services for children and youth across the
province," Calvert said.
As part of its commitment to children and youth across the province,
this year nearly $25 million has been dedicated to programs and
services for children, youth and families under Saskatchewan's Action
Plan for Children.
The government and its community/agency partners initiated the Action
Plan in 1993, with a government funding commitment of $4 million.
Funding and programs and services under the Action Plan have increased
every year since its inception.
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For more information, contact:
Virginia Wilkinson
Social Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0916