Excerpt: "Bill 66 - Early Learning and Child Care Act (Bill 66), was introduced on February 24, 2025, which proposes to replace the Child Day Care Act inherited when Nunavut became a territory. The proposed legislation ensures that Nunavut’s early learning and child care programs are accessible, affordable, inclusive, and rooted in Inuit culture, values and language. This represents a significant step forward in prioritizing the well-being and education of children in Nunavut. Bill 66 also introduces critical updates, including: Improved licensing requirements and duties for operators to enhance safety and accountability; Creation of the Early Learning and Child Care Council, a body to provide guidance and oversight; Expanded accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity for families across the territory; Enhanced support for the well-being of children, caregivers, and educators."
Excerpt: "The Province, in partnership with the Government of Canada, will address the pressing child care needs Island families face through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Two new grants under this agreement will help establish more licensed early childhood centres and support high-quality, inclusive early learning initiatives. Current designated and probationary early years centres can apply for one-time funding up to $35,000 based on enrollment through the Inclusive Equipment and Materials Grant. Funding through this grant will allow them to purchase items such as sensory equipment and educational technology that enhance inclusive early years education programming. Through the new Non-Profit Organization Child Care Start-Up Grant, the Province is providing one-time funding, up to $200,000, for eligible construction and renovation costs to NPOs who operate new early childhood centres for at least five years and prioritizes infants and toddlers spaces. Eligible applicants will also be expected to become designated within 18 months after opening."
Excerpt: "The provincial government has allocated 3,600 new designated preschool child-care spaces. Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson said the spaces have been allocated in areas of the province where the need is greatest. “Increasing access to child care is a top priority for our province, given our growing population and the desire for new parents to return to the workforce,” said Johnson. “We are excited that more families will have access to affordable, high-quality child-care spaces, and are thankful to our operators for their hard work and commitment to make these spaces available.”"
Excerpt: "It will enhance school breakfast programming for all 373 schools across the province, which is currently serving approximately 52,000 kids this school year. With this agreement, families in Nova Scotia with two children in school can save $800 in grocery bills a year on average. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $12.4 million over the next three years to feed more kids. For the 2024-25 school year, that will include offering a more robust and consistent breakfast program in schools across the province, purchasing new kitchen equipment, hiring additional program coordinators, and developing new recipes for the launch of the next phase of the pay-what-you-can lunch program. These enhancements are particularly significant for rural and remote communities in Nova Scotia and will provide children most affected by food insecurity with access to more consistent and nutritious meals at school."
Excerpt: "As we create new child care spaces, we also need more talented early childhood educators to support them. To help build this incredible workforce, the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing in professional training and education, including $5.8 million for a tuition reimbursement program that provides early childhood education students with up to $5,000. There’s also dedicated funding to support newcomers and Indigenous students entering the field, ensuring more trained professionals are ready to meet the demand."
Excerpt: "The Welcoming a Child Hub offers a personalized checklist and highlights key benefits from the government. This ensures parents can plan Employment Insurance leave, the Canada Child Benefit, Dental Care and may other benefits available to them through the Government of Canada. It also shares relatable stories inspired by real experiences. Similar to the recently launched Retirement Hub and the What to Do When Someone Dies Hub, this initiative demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving services and supporting Canadians through major life events and unique challenges."
Excerpt: "Proposed changes to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations and Canada Student Loans Regulations, pre-published today in the Canada Gazette, Part I, will allow early childhood educators, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, teachers, social workers, psychologists, personal support workers and physiotherapists to be eligible for student loan forgiveness. These changes are expected to increase the number of loan forgiveness beneficiaries by about 8,000 starting in 2025–26 and by up to 19,000 in 2034–35. It is estimated that over 10 years, more than 27,000 professionals would be encouraged to move to rural and remote areas due to this benefit."
Excerpt: "The new dual-track French and English K-8 school will be located on Castlebrook Drive between Landover Drive and Skyline Drive. It will also include 74 infant and preschool child-care spaces. The Pembina Trails School Division has seen a 17 per cent growth in students since 2019 and this school will be designed with potential future expansion in mind to accommodate enrolment growth into the coming years, said the minister."
Excerpt: "Today, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick and the Honourable Claire Johnson, New Brunswick’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, announced an agreement that will enable New Brunswick to support school breakfast programs at an additional 160 schools across the province, reaching over 57,000 additional kids this school year. This will help New Brunswick reach their goal of establishing a universal breakfast program across all New Brunswick schools."
Excerpt: "Children and families in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and East Hants will have more options and improved access to child care with up to 286 new spaces. Through Nova Scotia’s child-care space creation programs, the Province is providing $7.6 million to support six child-care operators to add the spots. “These investments are opening more access to affordable child care to help families in our fastest growing regions,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “By investing in child care, we invest in families to participate in the workforce and grow our economy.”"
Excerpt: "Families in Cape Breton Regional Municipality are getting more access to child care with the addition of up to 49 spaces in Glace Bay. New Dawn Enterprises, a non-profit community organization, received funding to create the spaces, which will be located in its Glace Bay Youth and Family Centre."
Excerpt: "Starting Apr. 1, parents with children zero to kindergarten age attending full-time licensed daycare facilities and family day home programs across the province will be eligible for a flat parent fee of $326.25 per month, or roughly $15 a day. Parents requiring part-time care will pay $230 per month. To support these changes and high-quality child care, about 85 per cent of licensed daycare providers will receive a funding increase once the new fee structure is in place on Apr. 1."
