Families in Saskatchewan who rely on part-time and casual access to the province’s $10-a-day child care program are being forced to reconsider their arrangements as upcoming funding changes reshape how daycare spaces are supported.

Parents say the current system allows them to share a single licensed space across multiple families on different days, which has been especially helpful for those with children in kindergarten or irregular work schedules.

However, under new rules set to take effect in July, funding will shift from a per-child model to a per-space model, meaning operators will no longer receive duplicate grants for multiple children using the same spot.Daycare operators warn that the change could make casual and part-time spaces financially unsustainable.

One provider explained that under the revised structure, additional children beyond licensed capacity would only generate the $10 daily parent contribution, translating to roughly one dollar per hour for a 10-hour care day.Operators argue this level of funding is not viable and may force them to eliminate flexible arrangements altogether.

Parents are expressing concern about reduced options and long wait times, with some reporting waitlists stretching up to 21 months for full-time spaces.While some say they would accept full-time care if available, the shortage of spaces leaves many without practical alternatives.The provincial government maintains it is not eliminating part-time care, but rather streamlining funding by removing duplicate subsidies.

Officials note that the change is intended to extend operating grants to newly created spaces and improve affordability for additional families, building on more than 35,000 existing $10-a-day spaces and approximately 7,000 more in development.Despite these assurances, families and providers remain uncertain about how flexible child care will function under the updated system.