Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "Every family in Canada deserves access to high-quality child care when they need it and at a price that won’t break the bank. That’s why the Government of Canada is working closely with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to make this a reality. To date, over half of all provinces and territories are delivering regulated early learning and child care for an average of $10-a-day or less, and every other jurisdiction has reduced fees by at least 50%. For families across Canada, this means significant annual savings for regulated child care. On average, families could save up to $14,300 per child depending on where they live. With Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada, receiving Royal Assent on March 19, 2024, the federal vision is now established into law. The legislation enshrines the guiding principles for federal investments in a Canada-wide early learning and child care system where families have access to affordable, high-quality, flexible, and inclusive programs and services no matter where they live. This also includes this Government’s commitment to maintaining long-term federal funding to our funding partners."

Excerpt: "Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada, was introduced in the House of Commons on December 8, 2022. The Act: reinforces the Government’s long-term commitment to early learning and child care by articulating the federal goal, vision, and principles for a Canada-wide system; enshrines the Government of Canada’s commitment to sustained and ongoing funding for partners; enhances accountability through reporting to Parliament on progress towards an early learning and child care system; and establishes in law the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care, which provides advice to the Government of Canada and serves as a forum for engagement on issues and challenges facing the early learning and child care sector."

Excerpt: "The 2024-25 Budget provides $408.7 million for early learning and child care, which will support Saskatchewan families. This includes an increase of $21.1 million for the Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreements. This funding continues to support child care at $10 a day for children under six, making Saskatchewan one of the most affordable places in Canada to live and raise a family. The Government of Saskatchewan is also committed to adding more regulated home-based and centre-based child care spaces in the province, creating more jobs for our growing province."

Excerpt: "The government will increase funding through the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Child Care Agreement by $7.4 million, bringing the total investment to $150.7 million in 2024-25. This investment aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality designated child-care spaces. Other investments include: $4.4 million to support children with autism spectrum disorder, providing the right supports at the right time and setting up children for success; $18.6 million to address challenges resulting from enrolment growth, as well as an additional $24.3 million to address rising operating costs such as energy, transportation and other services; $1.1 million to address costs associated with opening new schools in Fredericton and Moncton this September; $2.5 million to support language learning and ease the transition for immigrant students entering the New Brunswick education system; $7.4 million to provide services to help students attend school and address their diverse needs; $7.8 million to provide support to reverse the effects of instruction time lost during the pandemic; $4.1 million to begin implementing longer-term measures, such as teacher recruitment and retention, enhanced virtual learning and leadership development among school leaders."

Excerpt: "Joint federal and provincial funding of $1.2 million supported the projects, which include: an outdoor nature trail at Gaspereau Valley Elementary School, Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education; an outdoor classroom constructed of natural material at Oceanview Education Centre, Cape Breton Regional Centre for Education; a ball play area and outdoor amphitheatre upgrades at Petite Riviere Elementary School, South Shore Regional Centre for Education; a covered outdoor classroom with accessible walkway at Maple Grove Education Centre, Tri-County Regional Centre for Education; accessible picnic tables for more than 40 schools across the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education."

Excerpt: "The Manitoba government has introduced legislation that would lower the age a child is required to attend school and remove barriers to students enrolling in schools in the area where they live, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare announced today. “We want to make sure every kid is set up for success and that means making sure they have access to education, particularly in the critical early years,” said Altomare. “We know when kids attend school regularly, they are more likely to succeed, go to college or university, and get a good job that will help them build a good life. That is why we want to make sure they are able to go to school wherever they are living.”"

Excerpt: "Our greatest ambition has always been the same: to give every child the tools they need to reach their full potential. This is our vision for the Québec of tomorrow. I am announcing that we are continuing our efforts with additional investments of $819 million with a view to: supporting student success by giving them access to the tools they need, for example with the catch-up plan; promoting the attraction and retention of school staff; supporting partner organizations in education; and continuing maintenance of the school building inventory."

Excerpt: "Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2023 describes the early years and child care system, key data and measures for child care and indicators under Ontario’s bilateral federal-provincial early learning and child care agreements with the federal government."

Excerpt: "Providing affordable child care: $42.5 million in continued funding for early learning and child care."

The Student and Family Affordability Fund will add an additional $20 million from the Province to help schools provide support directly to families within their school communities. Funding will be used to help pay for student necessities, such as school supplies, school fees and class trips, as well as additional costs associated with joining a school sports team or music program.

Excerpt: "Through this action plan, Canada’s investments support five key areas: Affordability - Over $25 million toward achieving an average of $10-a-day for child care fees. This investment has made licensed ELCC programming more affordable for all families, regardless of their income or location in the territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories had already reduced out-of-pocket child care fees by an average of 60% as of April 1, 2023, and will reach an average of $10-a-day per child by April 1, 2024, for all licensed ELCC spaces. Access - $770,000 toward preserving and expanding licensed spaces. This investment includes health and safety funding to support repairs and maintenance required during the licensing and inspection process, and start-up funding to purchase supplies, material, and other costs incurred when setting up a new licensed program. Inclusion - In addition to territorial investments, $135,000 dedicated to developing a renewed approach to inclusion. This investment aims to ensure all children experience safe and nurturing environments, including Indigenous children and children needing enhanced or individual supports to fully participate in early learning. Quality - More than $30 million toward initiatives that support the ELCC workforce. This investment will focus on providing professional learning and development, funding post-secondary institutions to offer ELCC education programs, and providing scholarships to part- and full-time post-secondary students enrolled in early childhood development programs. This investment will also help develop a wage grid, with an implementation target date in 2024–2025. Administration and reporting - Almost $5 million toward building targeted capacity and additional resources within the Government of the Northwest Territories to support licensed ELCC space creation, enhance access, and improve reporting capacity."

Excerpt: "Alberta child-care providers are a critical part of ensuring the province has a strong economy. Child-care providers have asked the government for changes to help address concerns on the timing of their payments. In response, Alberta’s government is fast-tracking $84 million in advance payments. Starting March 1, child-care providers will receive about 80 per cent of their monthly claim at the beginning of each month, in addition to the fees they collect from parents. This change to monthly claim advances will help achieve the government’s commitment to introducing a new payment approach, ensuring child-care providers receive grant payments sooner."