Governments of Canada and Ontario sign funding agreement on Early Learning and Child Care

OTTAWA, November 25, 2005— Social Development Minister Ken Dryden and Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services, today signed a multi-year funding agreement on early learning and child care. Under this initiative Ontario will receive approximately $1.9 billion over five years to support its early learning and child care goals. Ontario signed an Agreement-in-Principle on May 6, 2005 , in which it committed to release an action plan identifying its priorities and how it intends to meet them.

“Today’s announcement is one more indication that we are on our way to realizing a high-quality, developmental-based system of early learning and child care across the country,” said Minister Dryden. “Although early learning and child care will continue to evolve in the years ahead, signing these funding agreements means children and families will very soon see decreased waiting lists and more affordable and better child care, and early childhood educators will have more and better training opportunities.”

“This is great news for Ontario families," said Minister Chambers.  "This is part of our government's Best Start Plan to help Ontario children arrive in Grade 1 ready to succeed.  Best Start involves a massive expansion of quality and affordable child care along with investments in children’s healthy early development.”

This announcement follows the Government of Canada’s February 2005 budget commitment to invest $5 billion over five years to enhance and expand early learning and child care in collaboration with provinces and territories. Funding for the period ending March 31, 2006 , has already been made available to all provinces and territories through a $700 million trust fund. The Early Learning and Child Care Initiative is guided by what are known as the QUAD principles: quality, universal inclusiveness, accessibility, and development.

Ontario will continue to report publicly on its investments in early learning and child care, and on indicators of quality, availability, and affordability, so that Ontarians can track progress.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario will collaborate with other provinces and territories to share information and best practices on early learning and child care.

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

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For information, please contact:

Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Social Development
(613) 941-0766

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

James Ip
Minister’s Office
416-212-7157

Anne Machowski
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
416-325-5156