QIA Increases Daycare Subsidy to $10/day
Iqaluit, Nunavut – August 9, 2018 – The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is pleased to announce an increase in their contribution to the Parental Subsidy for Daycare Users program.
A resolution was passed at the May 2018 Executive Committee meeting to allocate funding from the Benefits Fund to increase their current contribution to the Parental Subsidy for Daycare Users program administered through the Kakivak Association.
During spring 2017, QIA conducted an extensive community tour of all 13 Qikiqtani communities to gather direct feedback from Inuit about how QIA should focus program spending. There was consensus from Inuit across Qikiqtani that access to affordable daycare was a key priority. Responding to the feedback, QIA introduced several new programs under the Benefits Fund including supplementing the Kakivak Association’s parental subsidy for daycare users.
The QIA Executive Committee passed a resolution to increase QIA’s subsidy to $10/day. Inuit parents who are currently receiving the Kakivak Association parental daycare subsidy may now receive up to $29/day. The increase in parental subsidy is retro-active to April 1, 2018.
“I’m committed to improving affordability of daycare for families across Qikiqtani,” says QIA President P.J. Akeeagok, “Access to affordable daycares gives children a head start and parents the opportunity to re-enter the workforce sooner.”
With this increased daycare subsidy, QIA will provide assistance for approximately 200 childcare spaces. This subsidy is worth up to $2,500/per child per year in savings for eligible parents in the Qikiqtani region. This represents a QIA investment of nearly $500,000 per year, in children who attend licensed Qikiqtani daycares.
This program will continue to run on a trial basis until March 2020. During the trial period, QIA will continue to evaluate whether the program is an effective way to improve access to affordable daycare for Inuit in our communities.
For more information, please contact:
Sima Sahar Zerehi,
Director of Communications,
Qikiqtani Inuit Association
867.975.8413
800.667.2742
