Saskatchewan $10-a-Day Child Care Fees (What It Covers and What to Ask)

If you have heard "daycare is $10/day now" and your brain immediately went, "Great, so why does this still feel impossible?", you are not the only parent thinking that.

In Saskatchewan, the fee reduction is real. It is also only one piece of the childcare puzzle. Lower fees do not automatically create more spaces, and families can still face waitlists and extras.

This guide explains what Saskatchewan’s $10/day policy actually means, in plain language, and the questions we recommend asking before you accept a spot.

If you are unsure what counts as regulated care (and why it matters for fees), start here: Regulated vs Unregulated Child Care in Saskatchewan (A Parent-Friendly Guide).

What Saskatchewan says the fee is

The Government of Saskatchewan states that, effective April 1, 2023, parents with children under age six in a regulated child care centre or home are eligible for child care for $10 per day or $217.50 per month.

They also clarify how the monthly vs daily fee works:

• If your child is enrolled 10 days or more per month, you pay $217.50 per month
• If your child is enrolled fewer than 10 days per month, you pay $10 per day

This applies to children under six in regulated care occupying infant, toddler, preschool, or school-age spaces.

If you like concrete examples:

• 9 days in a month: $90 in base fees (plus any extras the provider charges)
• 10 days in a month: $217.50 in base fees (plus any extras the provider charges)

What $10/day does not guarantee

This is the part most parents learn the hard way.

It does not guarantee a spot

Statistics Canada reports that, as of April 8, 2024, 77.3% of child care centres had an active waitlist. Lower fees are great for families who already have a spot, but they can also increase demand.

If you are looking for care, plan for the search itself to take time and effort. A wide shortlist and consistent follow-up helps.

If you want the broader Canada-wide context behind waitlists (with data), read: Childcare Waitlists in Canada (What the Data Says).

It does not tell you what is included

Even in regulated care, "fees" can include a few moving pieces. Before you say yes, ask:

• Is food included? If yes, what does a typical menu look like?
• Are diapers, wipes, or sunscreen included, or do we supply them?
• Are there supply fees, registration fees, or deposits?
• What are the charges for late pick-up?
• Are there optional extras (field trips, special programming)?

Most programs are happy to explain this. The goal is to avoid surprises after you are committed.

Questions to ask when a spot opens up

When a centre calls and says "we might have something," you often have about 10 minutes to figure out if it works.

Here are the questions that save the most pain later:

• What age group is the opening and what is the start date?
• Is this a full-time spot, part-time spot, or a temporary arrangement?
• What are the hours, and what happens if we are late at pick-up?
• What is included in the monthly fee vs billed separately?
• What paperwork do you need, and when?

A quick reality check on availability

Fee reductions help families afford care, but spaces still have to exist.

In a Government of Saskatchewan news release about the $10/day milestone, the province stated that 19,790 regulated child care spaces were operational across 144 communities as of December 31, 2022.

At the federal level, Employment and Social Development Canada has also highlighted funding aimed at expanding spaces, including investments tied to the early learning and child care infrastructure fund.

None of that makes your search easier this week, but it does explain why the system can feel like it is changing slowly while your return-to-work date is not flexible.

How to make the $10/day policy work for your family

1) Prioritise regulated care in your shortlist

If $10/day is essential for your budget, start by shortlisting regulated providers and confirming they serve your child’s age group.

• Regina daycares
• Saskatoon daycares

2) Ask about start dates and flexibility early

When you reach out, include:

• your child’s birth month and year
• ideal start date
• earliest start date you can handle
• schedule needs (and any flexibility)

If you want a copy-and-paste email that does not sound like a template, use: Daycare Waitlist Email Templates (Canada).

3) Be honest about what you need

Sometimes parents feel pressure to say "anything works" to get in the door. That can backfire if the program cannot meet your schedule.

It is better to be clear up front about:

• pick-up time hard limits
• rotating shifts
• whether you need full-time or part-time

If a provider cannot support it, you have saved everyone time.

Sources

• Government of Saskatchewan: Child Care in Saskatchewan (fee details and eligibility wording)
• Government of Saskatchewan news release (March 6, 2023): Saskatchewan to achieve $10 a day child care by April 2023
• Employment and Social Development Canada news release (May 13, 2024): Building more child care spaces for families in Saskatchewan
• Statistics Canada, The Daily (Released March 19, 2025): Canadian Survey on the Provision of Child Care Services, 2024