P.E.I. to regulate daycare costs

The province of P.E.I. is increasing spending in the early childhood sector by 63 per cent, but to access that money daycare centres will have to accept more regulation.

The increased spending and regulation was announced at a news conference Friday morning. Annual funding for childhood development from birth to school age will increase from $5.35 million to $8.7 million a year.

"This system is being built with one goal in mind - that, as a province, we can do a great deal more to prepare young Islanders for a lifetime of learning," said Premier Robert Ghiz in a news release.

"The Preschool Excellence Initiative will achieve that goal by helping to build an accessible, sustainable and quality-driven system - while recognizing the importance of parental choice."

The initiative will see the creation of regulated Early Years Centres and Infant Care Centres. These centres will follow a provincial curriculum and have regulated costs. Businesses will still be able to operate outside of the provincial system, but they will not have the same access to provincial funding.

Government money will be available for wage subsidies as well as training and professional development.