GATINEAUQC, July 23, 2022 /CNW/ – Childcare is not just a social policy, it’s also an economic policy. Access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive childcare will boost the economy, allow more women to enter the labor market and give children Canada the best start in life. This is why the government of Canada signed agreements with each province and territory to implement a Canadaacross the early learning and child care system.
Today, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karine Gouldand of the Yukon Education Minister, Jeanie McLeancelebrated the first anniversary of the signing of the Canada–YukonCanadaacross the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
As part of the agreement with the government of yukonthe government of Canada providing nearly $42 million over five years to help improve licensed early learning and child care for children under age 6 in the territory. The government of from Canada the investment is based on of the Yukon success to provide yukon families with full-time access to licensed early learning and childcare places at less than $10 one day on average.
With the support of Canada–YukonCanada– broad agreement, the yukon has already exceeded its commitment to create 110 new licensed early learning and child care spaces within five years, to help provide yukon families with access to early learning and child care. The territory is focused on supporting the creation of spaces in licensed non-profit, for-profit, family day care, and government-operated First Nations centers.
The governments of Canada and yukon established an implementation committee to monitor progress on early learning and child care commitments in consultation with partners and stakeholders. The government of Canada is represented on the committee by the Federal Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat.
Moreover, the yukon supports:
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a strong and skilled workforce of early childhood educators, including through greater professional development opportunities, increased funding for program operators to provide comprehensive insurance benefits, and one of the highest minimum wages in Canada for fully qualified early childhood educators at just over $30 one o’clock;
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a universal child care system that includes children with different abilities and children who need enhanced or individual support and that ensures that all families have equitable access to high quality and affordable care; and
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a clear commitment to continue to work collaboratively with First Nations partners across the yukon ensure families have access to affordable, high-quality early learning and child care that promotes Yukon First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being.
Build a CanadaAn Ontario-wide child care system that works for all families in all parts of the country is a key part of the plan to make life more affordable for families while creating good jobs and by growing the economy. Almost all of from Canada provinces and territories have already seen reductions in child care fees. By the end of 2022, the average fee for licensed early learning and child care spaces will be cut in half nationwide. For jurisdictions such as the yukon and Quebec who already have a universal affordable childcare system, the investments will support, among other things, the expansion of inclusive and high-quality childcare spaces.
Quotation
“I am delighted with the great progress we have made over the past year since signing the pan-Canadian agreement with yukon. By working with the government of yukonwe contribute to making quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive childcare services a reality on the territory. »
– Minister of Family, Children and Social Development, Karine Gould
“The government of yukon is unwavering in our commitment to providing families with access to high quality, inclusive and affordable licensed early learning and child care services. In the of the Yukon first year of universal child care, more than 200 new spaces were created for children, the minimum wage for fully qualified early childhood educators was raised to one of the highest in the country, and fees paid by parents were reduced to less than $10 per day on average for full-time places. With the support of the government of CanadaWe continue to improve early learning and child care for the benefit of families, early childhood educators, program operators and all Yukoners.
– of the Yukon Education Minister, Jeanie McLean
Fast facts
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The yukon signed his Canada– Early Learning and Child Care Agreement July 23, 2021.
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The yukon introduced a universal childcare system that costs less $10-per day on average in spring 2021, before the signature of the Canada– broad agreement. Federal investments will support the expansion of the system in the yukon.
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In response to requests from provinces and territories, and to support the implementation of the Canadaacross the early learning and child care system, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $625 million over four years, starting in 2023-24, for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund. This funding will allow provinces and territories to invest more in child care, including the construction of new facilities.
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Recognizing that early childhood educators are at the heart of a high quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care system, salary grids and/or additional training supports for early childhood educators early childhood is part of everyone Canada– general agreements with the provinces and territories, with the exception of Quebecwhich has an asymmetric chord.
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As part of the 2021 budget, the government of Canada made a transformative investment of more than $27 billion in five years to build a Canadaacross the early learning and child care system with provinces and territories. Combined with other investments, including investments in Indigenous early learning and child care, up to $30 billion over five years will be provided in support of early learning and child care.
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Overall, the government of Canada aims to create approximately 250,000 new child care spaces through Canadawith provinces and territories, and has already achieved its goal of creating 40,000 more affordable child care spaces by 2020 through Early Learning and Child Care Agreements 2017-18 to 2019-20. These new licensed spaces will be created primarily among non-profit, public and family child care providers.
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Investments in early learning and child care will benefit everyone Canada. Studies show that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the wider economy receives between $1.50 and $2.80 in return.
Related links
Towards $10-a-Day: Early learning and child care – Canada.ca
$10 a day care center for Canadian families
Canada-Yukon Pan-Canadian Early Learning and Child Care Agreement – 2021 to 2026
Federal Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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