BACKGROUNDER
Government of Canada’s initiatives—Helping to give Canadian
children the best possible start in life
The Government of Canada has a long-term commitment to ensure Canadian children have a good start in life and plays a major role in supporting Canadian families and their children through a variety of mechanisms, including investments in early childhood development, income support, community-based programs and research.
The Early Childhood Development Agreement
In September 2000, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments (with the exception of the Government of Quebec) reached an historic agreement to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services across the country. In support of the Agreement, the Government of Canada is transferring $2.2 billion to provincial and territorial governments for investments in early childhood development over five years. Funding began on April 1, 2001, with the transfer of $300 million to provincial and territorial governments. Funding for fiscal year 2002-2003 increased to $400 million.
Provincial and territorial governments have agreed to use this funding to improve and expand services in four key areas: healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy; parenting and family supports; early childhood development, learning and care; and community supports.
Since the Agreement was reached, provincial and territorial governments have announced investments in early childhood development programs such as nutrition and screening of newborns, preschool programs and child care, and parenting supports.
To give Canadians a clear idea of the progress being made, governments agreed to report annually on their investments in early childhood development programs and services as well as to provide regular reports on how young children are doing.
In fulfilling this commitment, the Government of Canada is releasing two reports:
- Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2001-2002 provides information on both new and ongoing federal activities and expenditures on early childhood development, such as a new folic acid awareness campaign and improvements to maternity and parental benefits.
- The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2002 provides an overview of the well-being of Canada’s young children nationally, focusing on such areas as their physical health, safety and security and early development. In addition, the report provides information on the families and communities in which these young children are growing up.
These reports are available on the Social Union Web site at www.socialunion.gc.ca. To obtain a copy, please call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or TTY: 1 800 465-7735.
Other Government of Canada Supports for Young Children
In addition to its investment in Early Childhood Development (ECD), the Government of Canada also makes significant contributions to the health and well-being of young children through income support and tax measures.
The December 2000, extension of parental benefits under Employment Insurance from six months to one year helps parents to spend more time with their children during the first year of life.
Through the National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative, federal, provincial, and territorial governments and First Nations are working together to provide income support as well as benefits and services for low-income families with children. As its contribution to the NCB, the Government of Canada is increasing the child benefits it provides to all low-income families with children. As of 2001-2002, the Government of Canada is investing $2.5 billion annually in the NCB Supplement component of the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), with the most recent investment being $740 million in July 2001. This is in addition to the amount already provided through the CCTB base benefit to 80 percent of Canadian families with children.
In 2001-2002, as part of the NCB, provinces, territories and First Nations invested about $735 million in NCB-related benefits and services for low-income families with children. These include such initiatives as extending dental and health benefits to children, providing improved child care services, and creating new services for children at risk.
Aboriginal Early Childhood Development
The Government of Canada is also taking measures to enhance early childhood development for Aboriginal children.
On October 31, 2002, the Government announced that it will invest an additional $320 million over the next five years to support and enhance the early childhood development of Aboriginal children.
This new funding will be used to enhance programs such as Aboriginal Head Start and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative, and to intensify efforts to reduce the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects for First Nations children living on reserve.
In addition, the federal government will undertake significant new research to fill gaps in our understanding of how Aboriginal children are doing, and what factors make a difference in their healthy development.
For further information: