February 25, 2026
After the Houston government signalled it will not meet its $10-a-day childcare target by next month, Nova Scotia Liberals are introducing legislation to protect affordability and bring fairness and transparency to a childcare system that families say is increasingly difficult to navigate.
The proposed Childcare Organization and Waitlist Act would establish a centralized, province-wide childcare waitlist and create a dedicated agency to oversee access and planning. The Liberals have previously called for a centralized waitlist to prevent parents from having to register with multiple providers, often as early as when they find out they are expecting.
The bill would also require the government to invest the necessary funds to reach the critical $10-a-day target – ensuring families are not left paying more because of this government’s inaction.
“Families built their plans around this commitment,” said Interim Leader Iain Rankin. “We leveraged federal funding because Nova Scotia had already laid the groundwork with pre-primary, securing one of the strongest childcare agreements in the country. There is no reason to walk away from that progress now. Parents deserve stability and follow-through.”
Affordable childcare will also be the subject of tonight’s late debate, where House Leader Derek Mombourquette will call on the government to provide transparency and a clear path forward.
“Meeting the $10-a-day commitment should not be optional,” said Mombourquette. “If this government can find money for untendered contracts and poor planning, it can find the resources to support families and meet this critical target. Parents shouldn’t be paying the price for this government’s misguided choices.”