Nova Scotia eases its child-care subsidy qualifications

Nova Scotia has eased its child-care subsidy criteria so that more families are able to qualify for the assistance.

The province said effective immediately,eligibility willonly hingeon an annual household income of $70,000 or less, not assets like savings.

The subsidy pays a portion of child-care expenses for children age 12 and under for eligible families.

Becky Druhan, the province's minister of education and early childhood development,said in a news releasethe change will open the programto more families.

She also said families will be able to apply for the program faster because of the "more straightforward eligibility." For example, the application is transitioning from paper to online.

The province noted in the releasethis will reduce the "administrative burden and decrease turnaround time for processing."

The annual budget for the program is $25.8 million.

The province said there are currently4,000 families, or 5,000 children, being supported by the program.