Supporting Canada's Children and Families
On March 13, Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services reached an agreement on a framework for improving access to affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services. This initiative builds on the September, 2000 First Ministers' commitment to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services.
Ministers have committed to make additional investments in early learning and child care, as another important step in helping to promote young children's development and supporting their parents' participation in employment or training.
As described in the Government of Canada's recent budget, a total of $900 million over five years will be made available by the federal government to support provincial and territorial government investments in early learning and child care. Of this, $100 million will be available in the first two years, $150 million in year three, $300 million in year four, and $350 million in year five. Funds will be transferred to provincial and territorial governments through the Canada Health and Social Transfer, beginning in April, 2003. The federal budget also provides an additional $35 million over five years for early learning and child care programs for First Nations children, primarily those living on reserve.
For more information on this new initiative, please