On Monday May 16, the provincial government announced its plan to add 500 new child care spaces across the province, including 110 to the University of Saskatchewan.

Employment Minister Rob Norris said the Sask. Party is committed to ensuring that post-secondary students are supported while engaged in their studies.

“These new spaces provide greater opportunity for our students. They will allow more students with children to focus on their studies and, subsequently, succeed in their careers and stay in Saskatchewan,” said Norris in a press release.

As of now, the U of S is trailing far behind national standards when it comes to child care, with room for only 111 children between two centres. Over the past several years, the waiting list to get in has been two to three years long.

According to USSU VP academic Kelsey Topola, the student union is “happy that the government is investing in child care, and we hope that as many spaces as possible are allocated to students.”

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image: Flickr