Moving Forward: Governments of Canada and New Brunswick sign an Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care

Fredericton, New Brunswick, November 24, 2005— Social Development Minister Ken Dryden and Joan MacAlpine-Stiles, New Brunswick’s Minister of Family and Community Services,announced today an historic Agreement-in-Principle that further supports the development of quality early learning and child care (ELCC) for young children and their families in New Brunswick.

“This Agreement-in-Principle sets out the framework for delivering high-quality and affordable Early Learning and Child Care throughout the province, whether in urban areas or in rural or remote communities,” said Minister Dryden. “It is one more piece in the development of an ambitious system of Early Learning and Child Care in every province and territory in the country. This Agreement-in-Principle means more opportunities for a better future for New Brunswick children and their parents.”

This announcement follows the Government of Canada’s February 2005 budget commitment to invest $5 billion over five years to enhance and expand high-quality developmental early learning and child care in collaboration with provinces and territories.

As announced in previous federal-provincial-territorial meetings on ELCC, this initiative will be guided by the QUAD principles: quality, universal inclusiveness, accessibility, and development.

“This agreement represents an important tool to continue our constant efforts towards the development of our early learning and child care system in New Brunswick ,” said Minister MacAlpine-Stiles. “We now have the flexibility to develop a ‘Made in New Brunswick’ plan that will continue to build on the foundation of a strong child care sector, involving more services for rural New Brunswick and for families who currently do not benefit from our early learning and child care system.”

Over the next five years, with financial support from the Government of Canada, New Brunswick will carry out its vision to build on its significant investments to create an early learning and child care system that focuses on quality, affordability, and accessibility. New Brunswick will continue to invest through its Quality Improvement Funding Support Program to ensure that child care facilities and their workers are able to provide quality programming.

New Brunswick will develop and release a preliminary action plan on early learning and child care in the near future. Following completion of the action plan, Canada and New Brunswick will also work together to conclude a detailed multi-year funding agreement.

The Agreement-in-Principle sets out a long-term vision, principles, and goals to guide the development of regulated early learning and child care for children under six. It also outlines specific objectives that the Government of New Brunswick will pursue over the next five years and how that Government will be accountable to residents of New Brunswick . Also, the governments of Canada and New Brunswick will work with other provinces and territories to develop knowledge and information that will contribute to more effective early learning and child care programming. As part of this Agreement-in-Principle, the Government of Canada will work with New Brunswick and other interested provincial and territorial governments to develop a National Quality Framework that will guide the development of early learning and child care programming across Canada .

New Brunswick will continue to report publicly on early learning and child care, so that progress is tracked.

The Government of Canada recently signed similar Early Learning and Child Care Agreements-in-Principle with Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Ontario , Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia , Alberta , British Columbia , and Prince Edward Island , and funding agreements with Quebec and Manitoba .

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The Agreement–in-Principle is accessible at the following site:
http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/cs/comm/sd/news/agreements_principle/index.shtml

This news release is available in alternative formats, upon request. Call 1 800 788-8282 on a touchtone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).

For more information:

Jamie Tomlinson
Director of Communications
Minister Dryden’s Office
(613) 941-0766

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

Robert Duguay
Director of Communications
Family and Community Services
(506) 444 3684