Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects
Text from the Budget Speech of December 10, 2001
Re: Aboriginal Children:
" Mr. Speaker, the early years in children's lives
are critical to their growth and well-being and lay the foundation for their
learning, work and other endeavours. Last year, therefore, the federal government
reached a landmark agreement with the provinces and territories to foster
early childhood development right across Canada."
"In the spirit of this agreement, we will build
on existing federal programs, with a particular focus on First Nations children
on reserves. It is, indeed, the quality of life of children today that will
lead the First Nations to a better future tomorrow. That is why we will enhance
initiatives such as the Head Start program and intensify efforts to reduce
the incidence and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. And we will do more
to support children facing learning challenges in school."
"All told, this budget will provide an additional
$185 million over the next two years to help Aboriginal children receive
the best possible start in life."
Budget Particulars
The early years in children's lives are critical to their growth and well-being
and lay the foundation for their future participation in learning, work and
other endeavours.
Looking ahead, as the Speech from the Throne sets out, it is the well-being
of Aboriginal children today that will make possible stronger First Nations
communities in the future. This is why, in doing things differently, the Government
undertook to improve and expand programs that support early childhood development,
to reduce the number of newborns affected by fetal alcohol syndrome, and to
do more to meet the special needs some Aboriginal children have in school.
Early Childhood Development
In September, 2000 the federal government and the provincial and territorial
governments reached a landmark agreement to foster and report on early childhood
development across Canada. In support of this undertaking, the federal government
agreed to transfer $2.2 billion over five years to provincial and territorial
governments to help them in augmenting their support for young children and
their families.
Most provinces and territories have announced how they will use the new federal
funding. Through various initiatives, all will reach out to families with young
children who have special needs, including Aboriginal families.
To complement this initiative with the provinces and territories, this budget
builds on federal programs that support early childhood development, with a
particular focus on First Nations children on reserves. Over the next two years
an additional $100 million will be provided to enhance programs such as child
care and head start.
To ensure that these investments are making a difference in the lives of
children, new measures will be developed to assess the effectiveness of programs.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
As part of the September 2000 agreement to foster early childhood development,
provinces - those in western Canada in particular - will include measures to
reduce the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome. This budget provides additional
funding to intensify efforts on reserves to reduce this syndrome and its effects.
Funding will be increased tenfold, by $25 million over the next two years.
Special Education
Some children face special learning challenges in school because of physical,
emotional or developmental barriers to learning. This can include the ongoing
impacts of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. To support children
living on reserve who have special needs at school, funding will be increased
by $60 million over the next two years.
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