Child-care programs in Manitoba got a big boost Wednesday with an $11.4 million funding announcement by the province.

The government said it plans to spend the money on everything from new child-care sites and spaces to wage increases for workers.

'Child care is a critical piece of the puzzle for many Manitobans these days. More and more families are trying to make ends meet in a difficult economic environment.'—Gord Mackintosh, family services and housing minister

The funds will create 19 new child-care facilities, revitalize and expand several existing ones, and add 2,850 more spaces, said Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh.

As well, the province intends to launch an ad campaign and hire more workers, develop a curriculum framework, and enhance child safety at the facilities, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

"Child care is a critical piece of the puzzle for many Manitobans these days," Mackintosh said. "More and more families are trying to make ends meet in a difficult economic environment. We want to help ensure that safe, enriching child care is available so parents have the choice to work or pursue training that will help them meet the challenges they face."

The announcement was made at the construction site of a new building for Rainbow Day Nursery in the Southdale neighbourhood of Winnipeg. That facility is set to open in eight weeks and welcome more than 100 children.

Other initiatives that are part of the funding, include:

• Enhanced play-based curriculum for higher quality early learning to be launched at 70 child-care centres.
• More than 1,021 weather radios have been provided to rural facilities to alert them to dangerous conditions.
• Family Choices scholarships created for 20 Grade 12 students entering an early childhood educator program (ECE) at Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface and University College of the North.
• A three per cent wage increase for child-care workers starting July 1 will increase salaries to at least $15.50 an hour for early childhood educators and $12.25 an hour for child-care assistants training to become ECEs. Graduates of college-level diploma programs can now expect to earn $32,000 per year.
• Training grants increased 40 per cent to $350 from $250 for ECE grads who wish to upgrade.
• Operating funding for child-care centres increased between five and 12 per cent this year.