Backgrounder: Canada–Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement

On June 12, 2017, the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Early Learning and Child Care signed a Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework. This is a significant milestone in which governments agree to work together to address some of the key early learning and child care issues across the country.

Governments will work towards achieving the shared long-term vision of the Framework where all children across Canada can experience the enriching environment of quality early learning and child care. They have committed to increase the quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and inclusivity of early learning and child care with consideration for families that need child care the most.

The implementation of this framework, and a separate Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework to be co-developed with Indigenous peoples, is supported by federal investments announced in Budgets 2016 and 2017 totalling $7.5 billion over 11 years. Through bilateral agreements, the Government of Canada will provide provinces and territories with $1.2 billion over three years to address unique early learning and child care needs and allocate funding for each jurisdiction.

The governments of Canada and Manitoba have signed an early learning and child care bilateral agreement. Through this bilateral agreement, the Government of Manitoba will receive close to $47 million, over three years. Manitoba is committed to strengthening the quality of the early learning and child care system through new and innovative policies and practices and increasing accessibility to licensed early learning and child care options for families most in need.

By the end of the three-year agreement, this funding will:

• support the creation of new and newly funded infant, preschool and nursery school spaces;
• build the early learning and child care sector capacity through training and skill development;
• improve financial stability to facilities, increase the number of qualified and trained early child care educators, create hybrid licensed child care facilities and provide additional operating funding support to eligible centres;
• address the growing complexity of needs of children with varying abilities; and
• engage with the early learning and child care sector, parents and other interested Manitobans to receive advice and feedback on the progress of the bilateral initiatives.