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Government of Canada reports focus on early childhood development November 20, 2002 OTTAWA, ONTARIO—Minister of Human Resources Development Canada Jane Stewart, Health Minister Anne McLellan and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Robert D. Nault today marked Canada’s National Child Day with the release of two reports documenting progress in the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping young Canadian children get a good start in life. The document Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2001-2002 provides updated progress reports 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 (ECD) Agreement. Building on the November 2001 baseline report on federal ECD activities and expenditures, it focuses on initiatives begun during the past year and changes and enhancements to ongoing activities and programs. The report details a new folic acid awareness campaign; improvements to maternity and parental benefits; recently funded projects under the Community Action Program for Children; and improvements to initiatives for military families through Military Family Resource Centres. A second report looks at how Canadian children from birth to five years of age are faring. The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2002 presents national-level data on young children and their families. Overall, it shows that Canada’s young children are developing well. There are, however, areas for improvement in data gathering on Aboriginal children and children with disabilities, which are now being addressed. “Canada’s future lies with our children—their success, and Canada’s, depends on their getting a good start in life,” noted Minister Stewart. Minister McLellan added that “no investments have greater payoff than ensuring children have that good start—and that families have the tools they need to care for and nurture their children.” Minister Nault pointed to the recently announced strategy to improve and expand early childhood programs and services for First Nations and other Aboriginal children. “This is evidence of the Government of Canada’s commitment to the health and well-being of Canada’s children, and to enhancing measures to address the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children,” said the Minister. The two reports help deliver on the commitment made to Canadians by First Ministers under the ECD Agreement 1 to report regularly to Canadians on how young children are doing and on their investments in ECD programs and services. Under the Agreement, the Government of Canada is providing $2.2 billion over five years to provincial and territorial governments to support their investments in any or all of four priority areas. In 2001-2002, the federal government transferred a total of $300 million to provinces and territories for early childhood development and this contribution will grow to $400 million during the 2002-2003 fiscal year. In addition, the Government of Canada recently announced a new federal strategy on early childhood development for Aboriginal children, which will provide $320 million over five years, building on the solid foundation of the Government of Canada’s existing programs and services for First Nations and other Aboriginal children. Today, Secretary of State (Children and Youth) Ethel Blondin-Andrew is participating in the “Summit on Early Childhood Development: Investing in Today’s Children… Tomorrow’s leaders” in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Summit complements the September 2000 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement and the bilateral Manitoba Children's Agenda signed in April 2002. Both reports published today can be accessed from the Social Union
Web site at www.socialunion.gc.ca. To obtain a copy, call 1 800 O-Canada
(1 800 622-6232) or - 30 - Andrew Graham Press Secretary Media Relations Office Farah Mohamed Emmanuel Chabot Alastair Mullin Patricia Valladao
- 30 - [ Top ] 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. The Government of Quebec is receiving its share of funding from the Government of Canada for early childhood development programs and services through the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST).
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