The provincial government has introduced two new initiatives to improve access to child care.

The initiatives were recommended through the Child Care Operating Grant review released last month.

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell, in St. Anthony to make the announcement, says the province is increasing the minimum enrolment threshold for regulated child care centres from 70 to 90 per cent, while a new Rural and Remote Allowance is being introduced for child care operators outside more highly populated centres.

Howell expects it will make a difference in accessing child care.

Howell says child care centres will be able to allocate those funds to specific challenges they may face, whether that be staffing or product procurement “or some of those issues that they may face which may be particularly challenging when you’re not necessarily on the beaten path.”