New Brunswick announces plan to provide free child care to low income families

Low income families in New Brunswick will have access to free child care under a program announced by the provincial government.

Premier Brian Gallant says providing access to free child care will give low-income parents every opportunity to enter the workforce or pursue their studies.

READ: New Brunswick creating one-stop shop child-care registry

The program will be open to families with an annual gross income under $37,500.

Norm Bosse, the province’s child and youth advocate, says he feels the initiative will start paying dividends sooner rather than later.

“We are talking about pre-school here and and when our kids get to kindergarten and grade one, if they’re better prepared I think we’re going to see some better results in our schools,” said Bosse.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We are talking about pre-school here and and when our kids get to kindergarten and grade one, if they're better prepared I think we're going to see some better results in our schools," said Bosse.

Living SJ, an organization focused on ending generational poverty says poverty reduction initiatives don’t work without child care components like this.

“Parents are too often caught having to juggle the number of days they can work or study so they can look after their children. This sacrifices their potential earning ability and even job prospects,” said Donna Gates, Executive Director of Living SJ.

WATCH: 1 in 5 New Brunswick children and youth living in poverty

2:12 1 in 5 New Brunswick children and youth living in poverty

The first designated Early Learning Centres will be in the Saint John and Edmundston areas beginning in March.

Gallant says they will be implemented provincewide by March 2019.

He says additional financial support for preschool-aged children will be announced in the near future.

— with files from Andrew Cromwell, Global News