Government of Canada on track to deliver on the creation of up to 40,000 more affordable child care spaces
News release
Federal investments in early learning and child care are helping children and families in Canada
January 9, 2019 Hamilton, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
For Canadian families, high-quality, affordable child care is more than a convenience—it’s a necessity. Helping hard-working middle-class families provide the best start in life for their children is a top priority for the Government of Canada.
By 2020, historic investments through the Early Learning and Child Care Bilateral Agreements with provinces and territories will lead to the creation of up to 40,000 more affordable child care spaces. The Honourable Jean‑Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, today announced that the Government of Canada is on track to deliver on those results, with already more than a third of the target achieved in 2017–18.
Additional child care spaces help reduce wait times for families and extended opening hours make life easier for parents who work seasonal or non-standard hours. Newly funded child care spaces are also being created with consideration for families more in need, such as lower-income families, lone-parent families, families in under‑served communities, those working non-standard hours, families with children with varying abilities and Indigenous families.
Earlier this fall, the Government of Canada jointly released the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework with Indigenous leadership, and announced its investment of $1.7 billion over 10 years towards a culturally appropriate approach to early learning and child care that will provide Indigenous children with a solid foundation for future success.
Quotes
“Every child from coast to coast to coast deserves access to quality early learning and child care. Our investments in early learning and child care help Canadian children get the best start in life and have a fair chance to succeed.”
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada entered into bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories to provide them with $1.2 billion over three years for early learning and child care programs, starting in 2017–18.
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Since early learning and child care needs vary across the country, provincial and territorial governments are prioritizing programs and services that meet their particular local and regional needs.
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To better support Canadian families, especially those in need, Budgets 2016 and 2017 announced an investment of $7.5 billion over 11 years, starting in 2017–18, to support and create more high-quality, affordable child care across the country. Of this investment:
- up to $1.7 billion over 10 years, starting in 2018–19, will support the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, and will strengthen early learning and child care programs and services for Indigenous children and families;
- $95 million will go towards closing data gaps to better understand child care challenges and needs and track progress; and
- $100 million will go towards early learning and child care innovation.
Associated links
Contacts
Valérie Glazer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819-654-5546
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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