OTTAWA—The Government of Canada today reported on a wide range of initiatives designed to support children and families.
Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of Health and the Minister responsible for the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today released the Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004 and the Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004.
These reports were developed by Social Development Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and describe how the Government of Canada invests directly in designing and delivering a wide range of programs and services for young children and families.
"Early childhood development and early learning help prepare young children for success in school and later in life," said Minister Dryden. "That is why we are continuing to build on our investments in this area."
"Canada must remain one of the healthiest nations in the world," said Minister Dosanjh. "Lessons learned indicate that investing in children, just as we are doing with children under six years old, is what is crucial for future learning, behaviour, and health."
"The Government of Canada continues to work with Aboriginal organizations, provinces and territories, and key stakeholders to ensure that every Aboriginal child has an opportunity to realize his or her full potential," said Minister Scott. "Providing for the early childhood development needs of Aboriginal children is an essential part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to enhancing Aboriginal life-long learning."
Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004
The Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004 is an updated progress report on activities and expenditures undertaken by the federal government in support of young children and their families since it began implementing the September 2000 federal/provincial/territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement. It describes dozens of programs and services for young children and families that are designed and delivered by the Government of Canada including Maternity and Parental Benefits, the Child Care Expense Deduction, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, the Community Action Program for Children, and the Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.
The Early Childhood Development Agreement enables federal, provincial, and territorial governments to enhance programs and services for children under six and their families in any or all of four key areas, including:
Under the 2000 Early Childhood Development Agreement, the Government of Canada is transferring a total of $3.2 billion between 2001 and 2008 to provinces and territories to support their investments in early childhood development programs and services. In 2003-2004 the amount transferred was $500 million.
Under the 2002 Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, which goes hand in hand with the Early Childhood Development Agreement, additional funding of $320 million over five years is provided to enhance programs and services that address the early childhood development needs of Aboriginal children. Specifically, the additional funding will provide for work in four areas of activity:
Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004
The Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004 responds to the public reporting commitments under the 2003 Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care. It describes early learning and child care programs and services that are designed and delivered by Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and National Defence, including the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative, Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities, and Child/Day-care Program — Ontario.
The Multilateral Framework enables federal, provincial, and territorial governments to further promote early childhood development and helps parents participate in employment or training opportunities by improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services.
Under the 2003 Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, the Government of Canada is transferring a total of $1.05 billion over five years in support of provincial and territorial investments in early learning and child care. In 2003-2004 the amount transferred was $25 million.
With the release of these reports, the federal government is meeting its public reporting commitments to Canadians concerning the federal/provincial/territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement as well as the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care.
The reports published today can be accessed online on the Social Union Web site at http://www.socialunion.ca. It can also be obtained through the new Web portal at www.ecd-elcc.ca, which provides access to federal, provincial, and territorial Web sites containing information about early childhood development and early learning and child care initiatives. To obtain a paper copy of the reports, call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or TTY: 1 800 465‑7735.
For further information, contact:
Linda Kristal
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Social Development
(613) 941-0766
Ken Polk
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Daniel Brien
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(819) 997-0002
Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110
Jean-Mathieu Dion
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970
Diane Laursen
Media Relations
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(819) 994 2044