Apply to become a member of the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care: Overview: Closed

Step 1. Overview

ESDC is launching a call for applications for a National Advisory Council on ELCC (hereafter the Council). The purpose of the Council will be to provide expert advice and a forum for consultation on issues and challenges facing the ELCC sector in Canada.

In carrying out its mandate, the Council will provide third-party expert advice to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality on topics including:

• the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening, and the recovery period as it relates to the ELCC sector
• promoting information sharing across jurisdictions
• developing standards of practice within the sector
• establishing a Canada-wide ELCC system

The Council’s members will be reflective of the diverse identities represented across Canada. As such, it will seek to ensure diverse voices are included as Council members, including but not limited to:

• black and other racialized communities
• members of LGBTQ2S+ communities
• Indigenous Peoples
• language minority groups
• people living with disabilities
• other historically underrepresented communities

About the Advisory Council

The Council on ELCC will be a forum for information sharing and discussion. Its members will bring a diverse range of perspectives and will provide expert advice to the Ministers on ELCC-related issues and challenges.

The Council will have 12 to 14 members:

• 1 co-chairperson appointed on a full-time basis
• 1 senior representative from ESDC as an ex officio member and part-time co-chairperson
• 10 to 12 part-time general members with knowledge and experience in ELCC from diverse areas

Council members will be asked to serve a 3 year term. Members must be available and willing to participate over the entire period of their appointments.

For their service and time, the appointed co-chairperson of the Council will receive a full-time salary and general members will be paid per diem in connection with their work. The rates of pay are currently under review.

The Council will be supported with policy, program expertise and direction by a Federal Secretariat that is currently being established at ESDC. In addition to its work supporting the Council, the Secretariat will serve as a focal point for ELCC across Canada, and lay the foundation for a Canada-wide ELCC system.

About the Canada-wide ELCC System

The Government of Canada believes in supporting families to help their children get the best start in life. For Canadian families, high quality, affordable child care is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

We are moving forward with a plan to create a Canada-wide ELCC system in partnership with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples. Please visit the Federal Secretariat on ELCC program page to learn more about our support for ELCC.