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

Winnipeg, November 18, 2005 — Social Development Minister Ken Dryden today signed a funding agreement with Manitoba on early learning and child care. Under the new initiative, Manitoba will receive $174.4 million over five years to support its early learning and child care goals. Manitoba signed an Agreement-in-Principle on April 29, 2005, in which it committed to release an action plan identifying its priorities and how it intends to meet them.

"Today's announcement is a further 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, the signing of these funding agreements means children and families will very soon be seeing decreased waiting lists and more affordable child care, and early childhood educators will have more training opportunities."

"We are concluding agreements that are flexible and adaptable to the specific needs of provinces and territories," said Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canada Wheat Board. "Manitoba's action plan addresses the early learning and child care needs of the province. This funding agreement will help them achieve their goals and further increase support for children and families."

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 ELCC Initiative is guided by what are known as the QUAD principles: quality, universal inclusiveness, accessibility, and development.

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

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

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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