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Presented by Francesca Dobbin, Director, University of Toronto Family Programs & Services Division of Human Resources & Equity; Patricia Chorney Rubin, Director, George Brown College School of Early Childhood; Bernice Cipparrone McLeod, Atkinson Centre Executive Director; Kerry McCuaig, Atkinson Centre Fellow In Early Childhood Policy, March 16, 2016, to the Early Learning Division, Ministry of Education, Ontario.

Excerpt: "The 2016-17 provincial budget tabled today in the legislative assembly outlines plans to put the province’s finances on the right track, protect education and health care and invest in job creation."

Excerpt: "Ontario is also investing in child care by creating approximately 4,000 new licensed child care spaces in local schools to give children the opportunity to transition more easily into full-day kindergarten. These new spaces will be built in areas of high demand and will enhance access to quality child care options for families across the province. This investment is another step towards a modern child care and early years system that will enhance programs and supports for children in Ontario."

Excerpt: "The ministry is now consulting on Phase 2 regulations to continue to support the government's vision for child care modernization and its commitment to have in place before and after school programs for children age 6-12 years in publicly-funded schools."

Excerpt: "The Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Family Minister and Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, Mr. Sébastien Proulx, is pleased to announce the new structure of financing of subsidized childcare."

Excerpt: "Ontario is delivering on its commitment to make access to child and family programs easier by announcing the launch of Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres. These hubs will offer parents and their children a suite of high-quality early years programs, as well as local services tailored to their communities."

Inside an early education program: from the perspective of children, parents and educators.

Excerpt: "Budget 2016 provides significant new investments in core programs while maintaining governments ongoing commitment to disciplined and prudent fiscal planning. Government is presenting balanced budget results in each year of the fiscal plan for the fourth year in a row."

The Honourable Margaret McCain, discusses the importance of early childhood education.

Excerpt: "Ontario is providing a $1 per hour wage increase for eligible child care workers who qualify in the licensed child care sector, bringing the total wage increase up to $2 per hour, plus benefits. The province is also providing an additional $10 per day increase to home child care providers who qualify, bringing the total increase up to $20 per day. Both increases are effective January 2016."

Excerpt: "In March 2015, the Government of Manitoba established the Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Commission in order to move towards implementing a universally accessible system capable of growing to meet the needs of all families looking for a licensed child care space, inclusive of centre- and home-based child care services. In pursuing this objective, the Commission was instructed to support the highly valued community-based, non-profit model, better integrate the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) and education systems, and maintain and improve quality of care within the ELCC system."

Excerpt: "The province is taking the next steps in creating a universally accessible child-care system for Manitoba families that will include lower fees, 12,000 more spaces, increased training and better wages for early childhood educators, Premier Greg Selinger announced today."