Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The federal government is committed to ensuring that Canadian families and children can continue to benefit from affordable, high-quality child care for years to come. In June 2026, we announced an investment of up to $5.4 billion over two years to keep child care affordable and provide stability while federal, provincial, and territorial governments work to strengthen the system for the future."

Excerpt: "The Provincial Government is adding up to 72 more child care spaces in the St. John’s area, which will help increase access to child care services in the region. Creating more child care spaces is a key aspect of the Provincial Government’s platform. The new spaces are in addition to up to 30 spaces announced last week in Sheshatshiu and the 470 child care spaces that have been opened since October 2025. YWCA St. John’s has been approved by the department to add up to 72 new child care spaces at the Unity Health Centre (former Costco) on Stavanger Drive in St. John’s, which is the home to health services such as an urgent care centre and an ambulatory health care hub. The spaces are funded through an investment of $1 million as part of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, a federal-provincial agreement that funds access to affordable child care."

Excerpt: "Alberta’s government is proposing legislation to help strengthen accountability and improve transparency for parents across Alberta’s education and childcare systems. If passed, Bill 35: Education and Childcare (Securing Parental Involvement) Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 would amend the Education Act and the Early Learning and Child Care Act. Key changes - The proposed amendments would: give families clearer and more consistent information about how progress and achievement is reported; increase transparency into non-instructional operational days; increase consistency for how school authorities assist parents in navigating unresolved disputes or concerns; strengthen oversight of childcare licensing and early childhood educator certification; strengthen parent notification when critical incidents, safety concerns or compliance issues arise in licensed childcare."

Excerpt: "The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) welcomes and accepts the findings of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada's (OAG) Performance Audit of Early Learning and Child Care in the Northwest Territories, and  is taking action to better meet the needs of families across the territory. The OAG’s audit examined the GNWT’s implementation of legislative, regulatory, and strategic commitments and responsibilities under the Early Learning and Child Care Act, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement(external link), and the 2030 Early Learning and Child Care Strategy."

Also see:

• Office of the Auditor General of Canada – Report on Early Learning and Child Care in the Northwest Territories
• Backgrounder - GNWT Response to OAG Performance Audit of Early Learning and Child Care

Excerpt: "The department created 315 new licensed early learning and child care spaces over the 2‑year audit period. However, it did not assess whether these spaces aligned with community needs, and more than 90% of the new spaces were created in a single region when the department’s own information showed that more than 40% of children who may need early learning and child care lived in the other 4 regions of the Northwest Territories. The department also did not know whether there were enough inclusive spaces to meet the needs of diverse and/or vulnerable children and did not assess whether its initiatives to improve quality—such as implementing a wage grid to support the recruitment and retention of early learning and child care workers—achieved the intended results."

Excerpt: "Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation has been approved for up to 30 new child care spaces as part of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, a federal-provincial agreement that funds access to affordable child care. Approximately $658,000 in funding will be allocated to this project for renovations to the current facility and expansion of spaces at Shakastueu Pishum Centre. Applicants approved for child care spaces are required to meet criteria such as their ability to: Meet the demand for families with infants and toddlers; Provide economic benefits by enabling parents to enter or remain in the workforce; Help children and families who often face barriers to child care services; Demonstrate they have made progress in opening soon; Target underserved regions or populations; Operate as a not-for-profit centre."

Excerpt: "The Provincial Government is establishing a new Child Care Advisory Panel comprised of child care operators that will help the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development improve child care services. The panel will provide insights, concerns and recommendations to improve and expand child care services in Newfoundland and Labrador based on the experiences of those working in the child care sector. The department reviewed 115 responses to an expression of interest seeking members for the panel in June to ensure the members represented diverse perspectives from all regions of the province. The panel includes representation from a mix of rural and urban perspectives, early childhood educators, administrators and licensees from child care centres and family homes."

Excerpt: "Children in North Preston will have a more comfortable and energy-efficient place to learn and flourish, with support from the Province. Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and MLA for Preston, announced funding today, October 13, on behalf of Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to help the North Preston Day Care Centre switch from oil heat to an energy-efficient electric heat pump system. The project also includes planning for other upgrades to the building, which could include solar panels, new insulation, windows and doors, and energy-efficient light fixtures."

Excerpt: "Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and the Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Education, announced a four-year extension to the Canada–Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Through the extension, Ontario will receive nearly $12 billion in federal funding over the next four years, from March 31, 2027, to March 31, 2031. As part of this extension, Ontario is committing to maintain current child care fees at $19 per day on average until June 30, 2027. Keeping child care affordable remains a shared priority as families continue to navigate economic pressures. Over the next year, the governments of Canada and Ontario will work together to maintain affordable fees and establish a sustainable path forward for child care across the province. This work will include negotiations about Ontario’s share of the $5.4 billion over two years announced by the Government of Canada in June 2026 to help provinces and territories maintain stable and affordable child care fees for families."

Excerpt: "Families in Dawson will have access to more child care when construction of Big Blue Daycare is complete. With more than $2.7 million of funding support, the Dawson Society for Children and Families is building a new early learning and child care facility, which will have up to 32 spaces for children. The funding for this important community project comes from the Yukon government’s Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, which is supported by the Government of Canada under the Canada – Yukon Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund Agreement."

Excerpt: "More children and families throughout B.C. will have opportunities to learn, participate and succeed through increased access to programs and resources that help build literacy skills and a love of reading. "Reading helps children build confidence and skills that support them throughout their lives," said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “As a parent, I’ve seen how a book can capture a child’s imagination and keep them coming back for the next one. Access to literacy programs and reading resources helps more children discover the joy of reading, supports lifelong learning and creates opportunities to explore and celebrate B.C. books, authors and stories.”"

Excerpt: "Students returning to school this month are being fed, supported and ready to learn thanks to investments in education this year, according to Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson. “Our children and young people are the future of New Brunswick, and we’re making sure they get the opportunities and resources they need to have every chance to learn and succeed,” said Johnson. “By making the necessary investments in the school system, including classroom supports and infrastructure, we’re creating an environment for students to be successful.” The government committed $2.2 billion to education in the 2026-27 budget, an increase of $119 million."