¥������

Excerpt: "New reports on developmental inclusion practices and supports within Northwest Territories (NWT) early learning and child care settings are now available. Between June 2023 and July 2024, a third party was contracted to review current inclusion-related educational practices and supports available within licensed early learning and child care programs in the NWT. This review was informed through engagement and interviews with partners, including early childhood educators and identified organizations who provide inclusion supports to early learning and child care programs. The results of this engagement are included in the Review of Inclusive Education Practices in Early Learning and Child Care settings in the Northwest Territories – What We Heard. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) also published a response to the findings of the What We Heard Report."

Excerpt: "Today, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, joined Nunavut Premier the Honourable P.J. Akeeagok, and Nunavut’s Minister of Education the Honourable Pamela Hakongak Gross to celebrate the official opening of the new location and expansion of Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik, Iqaluit’s only Inuktitut daycare. This project received $1.8 million in federal funding through the Canada-Nunavut Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. For 18 years, Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik has offered culture-based early learning and child care in Inuktitut, fostering a strong connection to Inuit culture and language. This new centre allows Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik to open 16 new early learning and child care spaces in their program."

Excerpt: "The Province of British Columbia’s 2018 ChildCareBC plan included a commitment to add capacity in regional health authorities to license, monitor, and investigate child care facilities. Child care facility licensing is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and the five regional health authorities. But the Ministry of Education and Child Care has overall responsibility for putting the ChildCareBC plan into place. So close coordination is required. We did two audits related to ChildCareBC’s commitment to increase health authority capacity for child care licensing."

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: "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 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 Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) division is increasing the ELCC Wage Scale Program rates by 7.5% starting April 1, 2025 to support recruitment and retention of staff in licensed child care centres. Through federal funding, the ELCC Wage Scale Program provides licensed child care centres serving children ages 0-6 years, the opportunity to ensure fair and competitive wages for their staff. The wage scale applies to four categories of staff: Management; Early Childhood Educators; Program Support; Centre Support."

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: "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."