News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "Budget 2020-21 includes an increase of $17.5 million, for a total investment of $51.4 million. That makes Nova Scotia a leader in Atlantic Canada in pre-primary education. Families have told us that transportation would make it easier to access pre-primary, particularly in rural Nova Scotia. Bus service for all eligible pre-primary children begins this September with new funding of $4 million under Budget 2020-21. Creating this opportunity for young children also means more parents can attend school themselves or return to the workforce and contribute to family income."

Excerpt: "In July, government will expand the Nova Scotia Child Benefit to include more families, while also raising the amount eligible families receive. The $18 million investment, included in the 2020-21 budget, is the largest single increase to the benefit since it was created in 1998. “We’re putting more money directly in the hands of families who need it,” said Kelly Regan, Minister of Community Services. “This is another major investment in the children of our province.” Families with incomes below $34,000 will now be eligible."

Excerpt: "Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced $17 million in federal support for Nova Scotia’s child care sector to help ensure that safe and sufficient child care spaces are available to support parents’ gradual return to work."

Excerpt: "Every four-year-old in Nova Scotia now has access to pre-primary, a free, universal early learning program."

Excerpt: "The pandemic has highlighted difficulties faced by women in the workforce, especially around issues of childcare. My government is committed to working with the federal government on a national childcare strategy because childcare is critical to a thriving economy."

Excerpt: "Child care and education: $2.1 million increase for the now fully implemented pre-primary program available across the province, for a total of $53.4 million this year; $15 million increase to continue implementing the recommendations from the Commission on Inclusive Education to create a more inclusive education system for all students, bringing the total investment to $60 million; $9.5 million to maintain the enhanced cleaning recommendations from Public Health to support COVID-19 safe schools; $8 million to complete previous initiatives that support the safe reopening of schools and online learning due to COVID-19 during this school year."

Auditor General Kim Adair-MacPherson released her July 2021 Report to the House of Assembly. The report examined the planning and implementation of the Pre-Primary Program introduced by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in 2017.

Excerpt: "Nova Scotia’s Early Learning and Child Care System will focus on affordability, accessibility, inclusion and quality. The plan will: reduce child care fees by an average of 50 per cent by Dec. 31, 2022; ensure child care fees are, on average, $10 per day by 2026; create at least 9,500 new early learning and child care spaces by March 31, 2025, including new spaces for infants and toddlers, and a new three-year-old early learning program with priority access given to vulnerable and equity-seeking families; enhance before and after care options at schools."

Excerpt: "Today, October 15, the Province released expressions of intent (EOI) to Nova Scotia’s not-for-profit child-care operators and those delivering the Nova Scotia Before and After Program. The Province is asking them to indicate their interest in expanding as it aims to create 9,500 new spaces for children under six, with a priority on communities where specific services are most needed."

Excerpt: "In addition to reduced fees, there will be 1,500 new not-for-profit child-care spaces beginning this fall, part of the plan for 9,500 new early learning and child-care spaces by March 31, 2026. The new spaces will be made available in more communities across Nova Scotia, with the goal of equitable access to affordable, accessible child care everywhere in the province. Communities with limited care options will soon have access to licensed child care for infants and toddlers, along with before and after school programs."

Excerpt: "Nova Scotia will develop a new provincial organization that will manage all regulated child care in the province. A provincial executive director, regional directors and centre based managers/pedagogical leaders will lead the organization and be responsible for meeting mandated objectives as determined by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD). The Province will provide the organization with an annual funding agreement to support all regulated child care centres and licensed family home child care agencies that fall under their mandate. Current regulated child care centres will transition from individual contracts with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to a new governance and infrastructure model on April 1, 2022. The organization will oversee contracts for or manage the overall delivery of provincial child care including managing child care spaces and need in community, ECE compensation and wages/benefits (labour relations), daily parent fees, and centre finances."

Excerpt: "Announced today, February 18, the additional funding will offset the 25 per cent fee reductions for parents. It also includes a one-time grant to support the freeze on parent fees. The new agreement will be offered to all child-care providers, including licensed centres that were previously unfunded or partially funded. By accepting the new agreement, centres will have access to the additional supports from the Province. The government’s total investment in the one-time grant is $1 million. The fee reductions have led to increased interest from families in child care, and the new agreement contains a commitment from operators to accept children where they can."