Policy Monitor

Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the Early Years Centre at the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office where she highlighted the 2013 Budget's proposed increases to the Ontario Child Benefit, which helps about one million low- to moderate-income children across the province. The Ontario government is proposing to increase the Ontario Child Benefit's annual maximum payment by up to $210 over the next two years. This would raise the maximum payment from $1,100 to $1,310 per year for each child, helping parents with their family expenses.

Excerpt: "Government, stakeholders and service delivery partners have identified opportunities to enhance legislation, tools, processes and policies to improve the security, education, health, safety and well-being of children and youth in Alberta."

Premier Greg Selinger announced Budget 2013 will give families better access to quality child care by opening up to 1,000 new spaces over the next year. "Our government is focused on what matters most to Manitoba families and for growing families that includes better access to good quality child care," said Selinger. "More child care spaces will support parents while they are at work and help prepare young children to succeed at school, while also creating jobs for qualified early childhood educators across the province."

The province has developed a multi-year plan - now in its second year, Kids and Learning First is improving the future success of our children through a greater focus on the early years, the basics, and safer, better schools. The plan means more teachers, increased support for special education, and smaller class sizes. Included in the Budget 2013: Establish children’s centres so it is easier for families to access support services for their young kids and help them make a successful transition to elementary school—$1.2 million; Expand the ability of teachers to assess the developmental health of their students in critical areas like physical well-being, emotional maturity, social skills, and language—$70,000.

Excerpt: "The province released its 2013 Budget, and announced in its Budget Address: "We know that high-quality child care is vital to a growing economy and a strong workforce. This year, we will fund new child-care spaces and new child-care centres...which will help parents, especially women, find and keep stable, rewarding jobs. Our government will also partner with parents to support efforts to recruit and retain much-needed child-care workers...The recently announced After School Network brings community-based organizations together to provide more structured after-school activities and programs.""

To meet the needs of families in the growing Waverley West neighbourhood, Premier Greg Selinger announced that the province will build an early learning to Grade 8 school in the area that will serve families in this community for years to come.

London’s Early Childhood Educators Labour Market Partnership project proposal has been approved and fully funded by the Ministry of Training Universities and Colleges for $72,789.

The Premier's office announced that families will have better access to the supports they need to ensure their children get a strong start in life thanks to changes and funding announced in this year's budget.

The budget contains more than $230 million in spending reduction initiatives across departments that are designed to offset inflationary pressures. Detailed, in-depth reviews are underway in the departments of Health, Education and Early Childhood Development, Social Development, and Transportation and Infrastructure to identify service delivery efficiencies. Various efficiency measures have been rolled out across all departmental budgets to offset inflationary and service demand pressures and allow for select new investments.

The PEI government released its Budget Address 2013. To ensure the growth in the early childhood initiative continues, the Government will increase its commitment to the Early Years Centres by $250,000, bringing the total investment to approximately $7.7 million next year. An additional $60,000 is being committed to the Best Start Program to expand services to include children up to 36 months of age. The total contribution to the Best Start Program is now in excess of $1.2 million.

During the 2013 Throne Speech it was announced that thegovernment is establishing a Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, to better coordinate and improve the many ways that the province supports infants, young children, and their families in the first years of life. The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development will outline the immediate action and multi-year goals for Nova Scotia to make the most of the early years, with both prevention and support that will become available as the plan unfolds.

Saskatchewan government released their 2013-1014 Provincial Budget, and continue to make students a priority by investing in the PreK-12 education system.