$2 MILLION FOR CHILD DAY CARE IN BUDGET

Released on April 6, 2000

The government will spend $2 million over the next four years for Child Day

Care; it will be targeted to improving the quality of early childhood care and

education for the province's young children.



"This demonstrates our on-going commitment to early childhood care and

education in Saskatchewan," Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen said.



For the coming fiscal year, $500,000 will be spent on the following areas:



$300,000 to help lay the groundwork for an early child care and

education program;



$150,000 to assist selected day cares with higher than average numbers

of children with special needs; and



$50,000 to increase the annual grant to family child care homes for

developmentally appropriate equipment and programming opportunities.





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For more information, contact:



Bill Carney

Director of Communications

Saskatchewan Social Services

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-0916