WINNIPEG -- With students in Winnipeg and Brandon officially in remote learning, the province said parents of these students will not have to pay for their unused childcare spaces. On Wednesday afternoon, Manitoba Families Minister Rochelle Squires said parents of students in Winnipeg and Brandon will not be expected to pay for childcare fees while their children are in remote learning. Squires said the province is providing up to $1.9 million to offset childcare sector losses specifically in before-and-after-school programs, and cover school-aged parent fees. The province said early learning and childcare facilities will be given a grant equal to the parent fees for the children who are not allowed to attend their before-and-after-school programs due to the shift to online learning.