Yukon’s Action Plan for fiscal year 2022 to 2023
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Yukon’s action plan for fiscal year 2022 to 2023
This 1-year action plan continues the work set out in the fiscal year 2017 to 2018 to fiscal year 2021 to 2022 action plans, and is complementary to the investments outlined in the fiscal year 2021 to 2022 workforce development action plan and the fiscal year 2021 to 2022 to fiscal year 2022 to 2023 Canada-wide early learning and child care (ELCC) action plan, in the context of the ongoing implementation of the Government of Yukon’s universal early learning and child care program.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yukon’s ability to deliver on the initiatives outlined in the fiscal year 2022 to 2023 action plan may be affected. As such, the targets may not be achieved and expenditures may differ.
Introduction
In 2020, the Government of Yukon accepted the recommendation from the territory’s Putting People First 2022 annual report (PDF format), prepared by an independent expert panel, that it work towards a fully-funded, universal ELCC system. To address this recommendation, the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services were directed to develop a universal ELCC program.
Yukon’s universal ELCC program came into effect on April 1, 2021. Yukon continues to work with Yukon First Nations and other partners to enhance ELCC programming in the Yukon, as we move toward a vision in which all children have access to affordable, high quality ELCC opportunities. All licensed ELCC programs in the Yukon have opted in to the new program.
Under agreements with the Government of Canada, the Yukon will receive $54.3 million over 5 years to further enhance ELCC programs and services in the territory. In fiscal year 2022 to 2023, Yukon's estimated allocation under the Canada-Yukon ELCC Extension Agreement is $2.6 million.
Affordability
Under the new program, the Yukon provides licensed operators with up to $700 per month for each child enrolled in child care, which must be fully and immediately applied to reduce the monthly payments made by parents (this is pro-rated for children in part-time child care). The new program also includes fee increase limits to ensure that fees charged to parents remain both sustainable and affordable and in line with rates charged by other local operators delivering the same type of child care. Annual fee increases are limited to 3% for those charging within 10% of the Yukon average, and 1% for those charging 10% or more than the Yukon average.
Under the Yukon’s universal child care program, average parent fees are now less than $10 per day, among the lowest in Canada.
Reduction in operational and administrative expenses for operators
Additional funding is provided to operators to reduce their operational and administrative expenses and to support program needs.
Accessibility
Recognizing there is a need for additional spaces, the Yukon is actively working with Yukon First Nations, communities and partners to ELCC programming so that as many children as possible have access to affordable, high-quality ELCC opportunities. Since April 2021 and the introduction of universal child care, more than 200 additional spaces have been created, territory-wide. Federal funding was directed to operators to assist in the creation of these new spaces through the Start-Up funding initiative under the Canada-Yukon ELCC Agreement. As a result of adding these additional spaces, the Yukon has achieved and surpassed the 59% coverage rate outlined in the Yukon Canada-wide ELCC Agreement.
Funding for high-quality early learning environments
The Yukon provides funding to licensed operators to support them in developing culturally relevant, high quality early learning environments. For many centres, this includes programing that incorporates First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being.
Funding to increase wages and benefits for early childhood educators (ECEs)
Through funding from the Extension Agreement and the Yukon, funding is provided directly to operators to increase the wages of ECEs working in licensed programs. To support educator recruitment and retention, on April 1, 2021 a new mandatory wage scale was instituted. This wage scale provides a minimum wage of $31.01 for an educator with an ECE diploma ($32.31 in rural communities), the highest minimum ECE wages in Canada. Yukon also provides funding to programs to access extended health benefits.
Through engagement, educators report they now feel valued and respected as professionals, and compensated with pay and benefits that reflect their training and contributions. Operators report that these measures have significantly improved staff retention and increased morale in the workplace.
Learning and development
New funding has been directed toward post-secondary institutions to offer additional early learning related courses in order to train more educators and offer opportunities for ECEs currently working in the field to become fully qualified. This includes the professional diploma pathway, an accelerated education pathway for ECEs, implemented in April 2022.
Ongoing development of the universal early learning and child care model
The Yukon continues to refine its child care system through ongoing collaboration with First Nations Governments, stakeholders and Yukoners by prioritizing the following objectives:
- build capacity and high-quality programs by working with operators in the design and delivery of their early learning programs, including by providing early learning support from the Department of Education
- modernize Yukon’s Child Care Act to align with the Yukon’s universal ELCC program and support a culture of high-quality ELCC
- develop qualified, skilled and valued early learning professionals through accessible upgrading and professional development opportunities
- encourage Yukoners to pursue early childhood education as a long-term career through supports such as bursaries, wage enhancements and benefits programs
- work with partners and stakeholders to implement an early learning curriculum framework
- amend existing policies to promote quality early learning programs
- collaborate with post-secondary institutions and other partners to support ECE programs, in particular ones that are accessible to First Nations citizens and residents of rural Yukon communities
- continue to partner with Yukon First Nations governments and the Yukon’s francophone community to address their unique ELCC needs
Initiatives, indicators and targets
What follows is a description of the specific initiatives that the Yukon is undertaking, leveraging the funding provided by the federal government, to support the ongoing implementation of universal ELCC in Yukon.
Initiative 1: Yukon ELCC funding model
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons.
| Initiative | Principles supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon ELCC funding program | Accessible High-quality | Fund all licensed operators for the provision of affordable, high-quality and accessible ELCC programs |
|
$1,711,411 |
The Yukon’s ELCC system is a blend of non-profit, owner-operator, family day home and First Nations government-operated programs. The Yukon provides funding to 8 Yukon First Nations governments to support the operation of their public child care programs. This funding includes direct transfers to First Nations-operated ELCC programs (more than $3.5 million annually invested by the Yukon directly to First Nations governments), as well as direct, per-child subsidies. In 2022, the Yukon will support another First Nations government program re-opening (after shuttering for 2 years due to a fire) with an estimated 18 to 24 spaces.
The Yukon ELCC funding model provides direct investments to ELCC centres to support their operational expenses and enable them to provide high-quality inclusive, universal, accessible, and affordable programs for Yukon children.
This initiative provides funding to all Yukon licensed child care programs for the delivery of licensed ELCC programs. Funding is provided to operators to:
- support administrative expenses and program needs
- support high quality early learning environments
- support operational costs
| Type of program | Number of programs |
|---|---|
| Owner or operator | 32 |
| Family day home | 22 |
| Non-profit | 13 |
| First Nations Government | 8 |
| Total | 75 |
French first language ELCC
With investments from the Governments of Canada and the Yukon, the ELCC funding program supports 161 French first language spaces, across 5 licensed programs. This includes 61 spaces for children aged 0 to 5, 52 school-aged spaces during the school year and 48 school-aged spaces during the summer. These programs employ 29 French language ECEs, including 3 educators who provide inclusive programming for children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual supports in French.
Yukon offers funding for francophone ECEs to access post-secondary training and professional development in French. Additionally, operators and parents are able to receive communication and support related to ELCC in French.
Through these programs, francophone Yukoners are able to access ELCC programs in the official language of their choosing and francophone children are better prepared for French first language school.
Initiative 2: Start-up funding
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons.
| Initiative | Principle supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up funding | Accessible | Fund start-up costs of new or expanding centres |
|
$50,000 |
Following the implementation of Yukon’s universal child care program in 2021, the territory has seen an increase in enrollment of children in licensed ELCC programs. From March 2021 to March 2022, enrollment in programs increased by approximately 17%. Yukon Government is working with Yukon First Nations, communities and partners to enhance ELCC programming so that as many children as possible have access to affordable, high-quality ELCC opportunities.
Recognizing there is a need for additional spaces, federal funding will be directed to child care centres and family day homes in the process of licensing new or expanded child care programs. This initiative will provide funding for equipment purchases and or renovations in order to create new licensed child care spaces. Programs in Whitehorse may apply for a maximum of $10,000 for start-up costs. Programs outside Whitehorse may apply for amounts in excess of $10,000 to be determined by community needs, particularly if the community does not currently have a licensed child care program. This reflects the extra costs of operating licensed child care programs in rural communities.
A total of 25 new spaces will be created across 2 child care centres under this action plan.
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons.
| Type of program | Number of spaces (March 2021) |
Number of spaces (March 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| For profit | 928 | 1,094 |
| Family day home | 210 | 203 |
| Non-profit | 450 | 498 |
| First Nations | 281 | 273 |
| Total | 1,869 | 2,068 |
Initiative 3: Child Development Centre – supportive programming
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons.
| Initiative | Principles supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supportive programming | Inclusive High-quality | Fund supportive programming for ELCC programs |
|
$280,000 |
Yukon’s ELCC system strives for inclusion of all children and respects and values diversity, including children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual support. The Child Development Centre is a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic services, and supports the developmental needs of Yukon children from birth to age 6.
Federal funding will be directed towards the Child Development Centre in order to provide support to ECEs and licensed centres, focused on inclusive programming for children with additional needs.
This initiative will provide funding for Early Learning Program Support (ELPS) mentors to assist licensed child care programs in designing developmentally appropriate learning environments and providing consultation on group dynamics to assist in working with children with behavioral challenges.
Through the ELPS mentors, the Child Development Centre will also offer the Handle with Care program for ECEs. This program focuses on how to promote early mental wellness for young children.
Initiative 4: Child Development Centre: therapeutic preschool
| Initiative | Principle supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Preschool | Inclusive | Fund a therapeutic preschool for children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual support | 35 children with additional needs are supported | $150,000 |
In order to further support the inclusion of children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual support, federal funding will be directed to the Child Development Centre for the operation of a therapeutic preschool. This licensed program will offer high-quality ELCC opportunities to Yukon children who can benefit from specialized programming and additional supports.
Initiative 5: Enhancement fund
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons.
| Initiative | Principle supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 20023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancement Fund | High-quality | Provides funding to programs to address health and safety requirements |
|
$70,000 |
The Yukon invests in high-quality ELCC in order to provide rich early learning experiences and environments for children. The provision of safe and healthy programs is crucial to ensuring Yukon children and families have access to high-quality programs.
Under this initiative, licensed ELCC programs will be able to apply for funding up to a maximum of $5,000 to ensure their learning environments are safe and healthy.
Initiative 6: Education bursaries
| Initiative | Principle supported | Proposed activities | Targets for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education bursaries | High-quality | Provides funding to students to pay the cost of ECE courses |
|
$50,000 |
Yukon recognizes the importance of qualifications and training for the early childhood workforce. Yukon has committed to demonstrating meaningful progress on improving quality by increasing the percentage of ECEs providing regulated child care in the territory who fully meet Yukon’s certification requirements to at least 60% by fiscal year 2025 to 2026, as per the terms of the Canada-wide ELCC Agreement.
Federal funding will be directed towards a bursary program for students enrolled in either full-time or part-time studies in early childhood development. This funding will encourage new students to pursue ELCC as a career path and support existing ECEs in furthering their education:
- full-time bursaries are awarded for $2,000 per term
- part-time bursaries are awarded for $500 per course
| No training | Level 1 | Level 1A | Level 2 | Level 2A | Level 3 with exemption | Level 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 92 | 10 | 22 | 4 | 107 | 114 | 364 |
Administration
Reporting and administrative funding
| Initiative | Target for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Administration of initiatives | Enhanced capacity to develop, implement and report on initiatives | $220,000 |
| Reporting | Audit | $20,000 |
The Canada-Yukon ELCC Agreement provides for administrative funding of up to 10% of the maximum annual allocation to support costs incurred by Yukon to support the Agreement.
Administration funding will be used to support the development and implementation of new initiatives related to Yukon’s new universal model, including reporting, ongoing policy and program development, strategic communications and required auditing.
Note: The table below was modified for accessibility reasons
| Initiative | Funding for fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Yukon ELCC funding model | $1,711,411 |
| Start-up funding | $50,000 |
| Child Development Centre (program support) | $280,000 |
| Child Development Centre (therapeutic preschool) | $150,000 |
| Enhancement fund | $70,000 |
| Bursary | $50,000 |
| Administration | $220,000 |
| Administration-audit | $20,000 |
| Expenses | $2,551,411 |
| ELCCA Funding | $2,551,411 |
| Carry Forward | To be determined |
| Total Federal Funding Available | $2,551,411 |
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