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News & Stories: Policy Monitor

November 4, 2024

Excerpt: "Further actions to support the early learning workforce and increase access to early learning and child care throughout the province include: Implementation of a medical benefits program for early childhood educators; Provision of a rural and remote allowance for child care centres in eligible regions; Wage grid bonuses for early childhood educators and administrators in Labrador, Francophone early childhood educators, and a further bonus solely for administrators; Streamlined paid closure days and statutory holidays for child care services on the Operating Grant Program; Creation of an Infant Incentive to provide $91 per day, per infant-aged space for child care providers on the Operating Grant Program; and, Continued expansion of pre-kindergarten programming, which is currently available at 34 sites throughout the province with a further 24 sites in development."
October 23, 2024

Excerpt: "Early childhood educators and other staff working in regulated child care services in the province can now participate in a medical benefits program that is cost shared by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Early Learning and Child Care Medical Benefits Program will be supported by the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador, with coverage provided by Blue Cross via Dougan Insurance Group. Medical benefits are optional and available to individuals who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, and have worked a minimum of three months at a regulated child care service participating in the Operating Grant Program, including: Early childhood educators; Trainee early childhood educators; Other staff working in child care services; Regulated Family Child Care providers."
October 18, 2024

Excerpt: "Marc G. Serr茅, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages, and Member of Parliament (Nickel Belt), accompanied by Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament (Sudbury), announced an investment of more than $4.2 million in a daycare centre in Val Therese and the EarlyON Centre in Ontario. They made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. The investment will allow for the construction of a new 88-place daycare centre in Val Therese, a project that will meet the growing needs of families in the community. This daycare centre will have five rooms: one for 10 infants, two for 30 toddlers, and two for 48 preschool-aged children. The official opening is scheduled for September 2025."
October 18, 2024

Excerpt: "This agreement, made possible by the federal government鈥檚 $1 billion National School Food Program, will enhance and expand Manitoba鈥檚 existing school food programs to provide meals to about 19,080 more kids every year, starting this school year. Manitoba is the second province, after Newfoundland and Labrador, to sign an agreement with the federal government for the new National School Food Program. Today鈥檚 agreement includes an initial federal investment of approximately $17.2 million over the next three years to ensure more kids get the nutritious food they need to thrive."
October 15, 2024

Excerpt: "The project, Anishnawbek Cultural Values and Well-being Based Early Childhood Development, will work to engage children in the community to learn Anishnawbek culture, laws, language and traditions from Elders and traditional knowledge keepers as part of their early childhood development. Moreover, it will advance the vision and goals of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework by: developing a vision or framework for a high-quality, culturally appropriate early learning and child care system in an Indigenous context; building and strengthening local Indigenous early learning and child care licensing rules and procedures; supporting ongoing education and training for Indigenous early learning and child care leaders, management and staff; and/or creating new tools, curriculum or training to support Indigenous early learning and child care staff working with children with special needs."
October 2, 2024

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is investing $15.3 million in more than 100 organizations that provide fun, safe and supervised activities for children and youth across the province through inclusive team sports and active recreation programs. "Our government is proud to support opportunities for children and youth throughout Ontario to lead active and healthy lifestyles,鈥 said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. 鈥淭his funding will expand access to vital resources and enable partner organizations to continue delivering high-quality, tailored active recreation programming that aligns with the needs of local communities.鈥"
October 1, 2024

Excerpt: "鈥淥ur partnership with Yellowquill University College is an important one and by providing degree granting status for its First Nations bachelor of education program, we are investing in certified teachers specially trained to teach in the distinctive contexts of First Nations communities,鈥 said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare. 鈥淭his is an important step in addressing the critical shortage of Indigenous teachers across the province and in northern Manitoba.鈥"
September 23, 2024

Excerpt: "Families with young children in Winnipeg will benefit from a new child-care facility opening its doors this fall, Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds and Premier Wab Kinew announced today. 鈥淲ith these new child-care spots in Winnipeg, we are planting the seeds for a brighter future 鈥 one where kids get to learn from the land and their community,鈥 said Sudds. 鈥淲e will keep working hard to create more spots to get kids off wait lists and into high-quality, affordable child care close to home. Every family deserves access to child care that gives their children the best possible start in life and we are committed to making that a reality.鈥 S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care Inc. in Winnipeg has expanded its operations to facilitate 40 new child-care spaces. These new child-care spaces have been created through S.P.L.A.S.H.鈥檚 new Urban Learning Centre, which joins S.P.L.A.S.H.鈥檚 Early Learning Centre at 109 Pulford St. as well as S.P.L.A.S.H.鈥檚 two other facilities in Winnipeg for a total of 236 infant, preschool and school-age spaces. The new site will offer 10 preschool and 30 school-age spaces."
September 19, 2024

Excerpt: "In education, our government continues to invest in the repair and construction of new schools. Approximately $1.4 billion in funding supported nearly 3,500 repair and rehabilitation projects. In the 2023鈥24 school year, 21 new schools and additions were opened, creating over 7,000 new student spaces, including six French-language school projects and over 700 child care spaces. That means more Ontario students have begun the school year in modern, state-of-the-art classrooms."
September 17, 2024

Excerpt: "Rural operators in particular pointed out the increased costs in small Yukon communities, lower incomes within rural families and the necessity for foundational supports in early learning and child care programs such as meal programs, and at times, provisions like diapers and suitable clothing for children. In the early childhood educators鈥 sessions, there was a call for increased wages and benefits such as sick leave. For some, it was about access to funding to upgrade their education and the possibility of expanded bursary programs to support post-secondary early learning and child care education"
September 18, 2024

Excerpt: "To keep up with fast-rising student enrolment, Alberta鈥檚 government is committing $8.6 billion through the new School Construction Accelerator Program. This program will create more than 200,000 new and modernized spaces for students to learn, grow and reach their full potential. Starting in Budget 2025, Alberta鈥檚 government will kick-start up to 30 new schools and as many as eight modernizations and replacement schools every year for the next three years."
September 14, 2024

Excerpt: "More M茅tis families will benefit from increased access to culturally based child care with more than 200 new child care spaces opening or on the way. 鈥淢茅tis children and families benefit from access to culturally relevant and high-quality early education,鈥 said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. 鈥淭his is why our government is working with M茅tis Nation BC to support the creation of new child care centres for M茅tis communities. By supporting our younger learners in environments that honour their culture, we鈥檙e helping to build stronger, more resilient communities.鈥 M茅tis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) has received $13.9 million in federal funding since 2022 through B.C.鈥檚 Ministry of Education and Child Care to create five new child care facilities that cater to the cultural needs of M茅tis families."