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500 new daycare spaces not enough, Saskatchewan minister admits [ON-SK]

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CBC News
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Publication Date: 
29 May 2008
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The Saskatchewan government announced Wednesday the locations of 500 new daycare spaces it promised in its last budget while admitting it's not nearly enough to meet the demand.

Education Minister Ken Krawetz blamed the federal government for the continuing shortage of daycare spaces when he made the announcement.

He said he will be lobbying for more federal money.

"Statistics of comparison with Saskatchewan and other provinces &emdash; especially even the Canadian average &emdash; we are, per capita, … below the Canadian average. So there is a greater need," Krawetz said.

Of the 500 spaces announced Wednesday, 358 will go to rural areas. Saskatoon and Regina will also get more spaces.

Krawetz said the $1.7 million spent on additional spaces is a good start but conceded the waiting lists for daycare spaces are still long.

- reprinted from CBC News

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