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Putting children
and families first – OTTAWA, ONTARIO December 5, 2003 — Minister of Human Resources Development, Jane Stewart, Minister of Health, Anne McLellan, and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Robert D. Nault, today released two reports highlighting progress in the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping young Canadian children get a good start in life. "There can be no better place to start investing in Canada's future than to improve supports for our youngest children," noted Minister Stewart. “Significant progress has been made and the Government of Canada is committed to building on this foundation.” Minister
McLellan added that "understanding how young children are developing
and where and how we can support them better is critical to their getting
a good start in life. These reports help us track the progress of Canada’s
young children and make changes to our programs and policies accordingly.” The Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures 2002-2003 The
Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government
of Canada Report One important new initiative detailed in the report is the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children. The report also includes, for the first time, information on current Government of Canada activities and expenditures on early learning and child care, in accordance with requirements under the new Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care (March, 2003). This year’s Activities and Expenditures report, authored jointly by Human Resources Development Canada, Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, marks the third year of reporting by the Government of Canada on its ECD expenditures and activities. Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children 2003 The companion report, co-authored by Human Resources Development Canada and Health Canada, provides an examination of how Canadian children from birth to five years of age are developing. The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2003 discusses the relationship between the environment in which Canada’s young children are growing up and their well-being, focusing on both the physical environment and the family environment. This report also continues to monitor indicators of young children’s physical health and early development, as well as measures of family and community determinants. Overall, the Well-Being report indicates that Canada’s young children are doing well. The report shows that they are healthy and growing up in families with good family dynamics, which is a key determinant of young children’s health and development. Accountability to Canadians The two reports deliver on the commitment made to Canadians by First Ministers 1 under the ECD Agreement and the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care to report regularly to Canadians on how young children are doing and annually on their investments in ECD, early learning, and child care programs and services. Under the ECD Agreement, in 2002-2003, the Government of Canada transferred a total of $400 million to provincial and territorial governments for early childhood development and this contribution will grow to $500 million in 2003-2004. Additionally, under the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, a total of $900 million over five years will be made available by the federal government to support provincial and territorial government investments in early learning and child care. These investments will improve access to affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services across the country. The federal Budget 2003 provides an additional $35 million over five years for early learning and child care programs for First Nations children, primarily those living on reserve. Both
reports published today can be accessed from the Social Union website
at www.socialunion.gc.ca.
To obtain a paper copy, call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or
For further information, refer to the fact sheet or contact: Andrew
Graham Farah
Mohamed Alastair
Mullin Media
Relations Office Emmanuel
Chabot
1.
The Government of Quebec has stated that while sharing the same concerns
as other governments on early childhood development, it does not adhere
to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement
and the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care. The
Government of Quebec is receiving its share of funding from the Government
of Canada for early childhood development and early learning and child
care programs and services through the Canada Health and Social Transfer
(CHST).
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