Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island sign an Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, November 24, 2005— Social Development Minister Ken Dryden and Chester Gillan, Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Social Services and Seniors, 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 Prince Edward Island.

“This Agreement in Principle helps to make sure that children in Prince Edward Island will have the best possible start in life,” said Minister Dryden. “Today’s announcement is further indication that we are on our way to realizing a high-quality, developmentally-based system of early learning and child care in every province and territory in this country.”

This announcement follows the Government of Canada’s February 2005 budget commitment to invest $5 billion over five years. This funding will 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, universally inclusive, accessible and developmental.

“Today's announcement is good news for children and their families as well for future generations of Island children,” says Minister of Social Services and Seniors Chester Gillan. “In anticipation of this agreement, Prince Edward Island has already begun the development of an implementation plan that will see child care subsidy rate enhanced, increase direct funding to operators, increase infant incentive grants and increase the capacity of early learning centres to include children with unique needs. Collaboration with our community will be critical in the continuing development of this plan.”

Over the next five years, with financial support from the Government of Canada, Prince Edward Island will build on existing strengths to further develop its early learning and child care system. Families and children will not only benefit from more developmental programs, but also ones that are higher quality, and from more early learning and child care opportunities. Prince Edward Island will develop and release an action plan on early learning and child care by January 31, 2006 . Canada and Prince Edward Island 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 objectives that the Government of Prince Edward Island will pursue over the next five years and how that Government will be accountable to Prince Edward Islanders. Also, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island will collaborate with other provinces and territories on 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 Prince Edward Island and other interested provincial and territorial governments to develop a National Quality Framework. This framework will guide the development of early learning and child care programming across Canada.

Prince Edward Island will continue to publicly report its progress on early learning and child care.

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

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

For more information:

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

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

Kathryn Dickson-Doyle
Department of Social Services & Seniors
(902) 894-0304