Post-Secondary Institution (PSI) Child Care Expansion Project

Manitoba’s Action Plan under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement provides capital funding for the development and expansion of child care centres to increase access to licensed child care.

Under the agreement, Manitoba is targeting the development of 23,000 new full time child care spaces by March 31, 2026, with dedicated capital grant funding to support the creation of 5,890 new child care spaces through capital projects.

The post-secondary institution (PSI) expansion project, enables Manitoba’s higher learning institutions to develop or expand on-site child care services and programming. In February, 2023, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) jointly with Advanced Education and Training to Manitoba’s public post-secondary institutions to expand Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Assistant training programs. During this time, an EOI was also issued for on-site infant, pre-school and school-ages space expansion, either as new child care centres or conversions to existing building in addition to interest in the development of on-campus Learning Labs to support hands on-learning opportunities for post-secondary students.

As of July, 2023, with funding provided under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child, $45 million will be provided to support 680 new child care expansion projects for children under the age of seven across six Manitoba post-secondary institutions. The Manitoba government will also invest $3.4 million to create 60 school-age spaces at the Université de Saint-Boniface. In addition to new child-care spaces, the post-secondary institution expansions will provide an additional $3.5 million under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement for the construction of seven innovative new learning labs at six of the post-secondary sites for early learning and child-care training. These state-of-the-art classrooms will support practical learning experiences for post-secondary students in the early childhood education field. Project details and timelines will be confirmed later 2023, with all projects expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.

On campus child care services helps to ensure that schooling and training is more accessible for parents looking to advance their education. As the province increases its training seats for Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Assistants, it is beneficial for students to have access to a child care setting on campus to help advance innovative learning. Accessible child care on campus helps students, as well as faculty, staff and the surrounding community.

In July, 2023, Manitoba announced nine post-secondary institutions expansion projects across Manitoba for infant, pre-school and school-age spaces and the construction of seven learning labs at six Manitoba post-secondary institutions.

Post-Secondary Institutions Approved for Child Care Space Expansion

*School-age only, with capital funding provided by the Manitoba government.

Post-Secondary Institutions Approved for a Learning Lab