Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "Starting Sept. 1, 2023, families with children in eligible half-day preschool and before- and after-school programs will save as much as an additional $145 per child, per month. The Province is providing the funding directly to participating child care centres so families do not need to apply to receive the savings."

Excerpt: "Studies show that every dollar invested in early childhood education generates between $1.50 and nearly $3.00 in activity for the broader economy. Nearly 950,000 more Canadians are employed today than were before the pandemic. That includes a record 85.7 per cent labour force participation rate in July for Canadian women in their prime working years — and that is supported by our early learning and child care system, now nation wide. This level – 85.7 per cent – is a record high for Canada and it compares to just 77.5 per cent in the U.S."

Excerpt: "The Yukon has enjoyed economic growth every year since 2016, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the territory continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. However, many Yukoners are feeling financial pressures due to inflation."

Excerpt: "As part of this update, Minister Howell shared new details regarding child care access in the province: There are almost 8,300 child care spaces operating at $10-a-day or lower the province, of which 820 have been created so far in 2023; Eighteen pre-kindergarten sites are now open throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, creating 340 child care spaces. A further 17 sites will open in September, representing total space creation of 600 through this program; In addition to spaces and sites already created, there are 63 child care providers in various stages of the process to open a not-for-profit child care centre in Newfoundland and Labrador, including: 14 sites in development in Central/East region; 24 sites in development in Western/Labrador region; and 25 sites in development in St. John’s metro region; This year, over 100 early childhood educators have joined or rejoined the workforce. There are approximately 1,200 early childhood educators working in Newfoundland and Labrador; In addition to the recently created early childhood educator wage grid, a francophone bonus of $5,178 has been created, effective April 1, 2023, for certified francophone early childhood educators working in regulated francophone child care services."

Excerpt: "Early childhood professionals who completed training outside Canada or francophone Canadians who have documents in French can apply for a grant of as much as $2,500 at the same time as they apply for early childhood educator (ECE) certification with the B.C. ECE Registry. These grants can be used to have non-English documents, such as school transcripts and course descriptions, translated into English by MOSAIC B.C."

Excerpt: "For the first-time ever, employees of EYCs in Prince Edward Island will soon benefit from a defined contribution pension plan, with matching government funds. As the province expands the publicly managed system, the number of staff required to maintain the program will also increase, and long-term financial investments will support a more sustainable workforce."

Excerpt: "Delivering $10-a-day child care for families right across the country is a key part of making life more affordable while creating good jobs and growing our economy by helping parents rejoin the workforce. The Government of Canada’s plan has already cut child care fees in half for families on Prince Edward Island (PEI) to an average of $20-a-day. As we keep making progress toward $10-a-day child care on the Island, we are investing to improve child care and make it more accessible for more families."

Excerpt: "The City of Fernie is pleased to announce $19 million in provincial and federal funding has been secured for a Provincial Pilot Project to create 100 new child care spaces and approximately 27 units of housing, prioritized for early childhood educators (ECEs)."

Excerpt: “A new three-year action plan, signed as part of the Canada-Manitoba Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, sets out plans for the remainder of the estimated $1.2 billion the federal government is providing over five years for child care. In addition, a new two-year action plan sets out plans for the remainder of the estimated $78 million the federal government is providing over four years under the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.”

Excerpt: “The $4.1-million investment will support an expansion project in the Town of Altona for the Kiddie Sunshine Centre to create 98 new child-care spaces in the community including 20 infant spaces, 48 preschool spaces and 30 school-aged spaces. The new stand-alone child-care centre will be built on land leased from Border Land School Division and is expected to open in the fall of 2024.”

Excerpt: “Bright Beginnings Educare will operate the Headingley facility, with 20 infants and 54 preschool spaces.”

Excerpt: "Families across Canada are striving every day to give their children the best possible start in life. That is why the Government of Canada is working with our provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners on building a Canada-wide early learning and child care system that offers families better access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive child care and early learning opportunities, no matter where they live."