The Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments have launched an early childhood development initiative that will provide more money in services and programs for young children and their families.  Early childhood development is a priority under the National Children's Agenda.

There is growing evidence about how critical the early years are to a child's development.   Canadian governments realise they need to invest wisely in services supporting children during their early years so that these children will be happy, healthy and ready to learn. 

In support of this initiative, the Government of Canada is making a substantial investment of $ 2.2 billion in early childhood development over the next 5 years, starting in 2001/02. 

Provincial and territorial governments have agreed to use this increased funding to 

• promote healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy,
• improve parenting and family supports,
• strengthen early childhood development, learning and care, and
• strengthen community supports.

Each provincial or territorial government will be able to tailor its early childhood development services to better meet the needs of Canadian children.  Investments in early childhood development could mean better services for pregnant women and infants, more child care spaces or a network of parent resource centers. 

Regardless of how governments choose to invest in their youngest citizens, they will report publicly on what they are doing.  This will allow governments, and Canadians, to track our progress in improving the well?being of young children.

Early childhood development is one of several major investments being made by the Government of Canada in its action plan for children and their families. Under this plan, we worked together with provincial and territorial governments and First Nations to help children living in poverty through the National Child Benefit.  Federal contributions to income support in this area will reach $2.5 billion by the year 2004.  We are also extending parental leave under Employment Insurance from six months to one year for employed parents.  This will enable parents to spend more time with their children during the first year of life, a crucial period in their development.  To provide support for all Canadian families, we made them our first priority for tax cuts.

All of these major investments are in addition to ongoing Government of Canada initiatives.  For example, knowing how to invest wisely in children depends on having good research to show us how well our children are doing and how we can help them do even better.   Programs supporting Aboriginal children and their families, such as Aboriginal Head Start, are essential to our plan.  And, of course, health initiatives, such as the Community Action Program for Children and the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program, are also key.

Whether through our partnership with provincial and territorial governments, or through Government of Canada initiatives, we are working to ensure that all Canadian children are given the best start possible in life.