Portable Child-Care Spaces

Another 50 portable subsidized child-care spaces are being made available to Nova Scotia families. They bring to 190 the number of portable spaces in Nova Scotia.

Having a portable space means a family can choose any licensed child-care centre that provides full-day services and that has signed a letter of agreement with the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. These spaces are designated for children up to 12 years of age.

"Since portable subsidized child-care spaces are assigned to the child and not to the child-care centre, the space and the subsidy follow the child if the family has to move within the province," said Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services. "Portability means parents can seek work outside their home community without losing their subsidized child-care space."

There are 203 licensed full-day child-care centres in the province. The portable spaces are distributed among the department's four provincial regions. Parents who want more information should contact the nearest office of the Department of Community Services.

The project is made possible through the federal/provincial/territorial Agreement on Early Childhood Development.

In September 2000, the federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to improve and expand early childhood development supports and services. The government of Canada is transferring $2.2 billion to provincial and territorial governments over a five-year period, which began in April 2001. Nova Scotia's portion of the funding is $66 million.