Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) division is accepting funding proposals aimed at increasing licensed child care spaces across the territory. Over $6 million in federal funding is available to support projects that strengthen access to quality early learning child care for children aged 0-6. This program is already making a significant impact in Nunavut. The newly-expanded Iqaluit Inuktitut daycare Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik in Apex has created 16 additional spaces for children with the support of this program. Additionally, funding has been provided to support the active renovation of the highly-anticipated new licensed child care centre for 20 children in Grise Fiord. The department is committed to creating 238 new licensed child care spaces by March 2026. Since signing the Canada-wide ELCC agreement, Nunavut has created 181 new licensed child care spaces, resulting in a total gain of 104, as some existing spaces are no longer available. Even more spaces are on the way as we continue to expand access for families."

Excerpt: "Work is underway to increase child care for health care professionals, with one child care centre in St. John’s dedicated to providing child care for health care professionals. In addition, there are child care centres in St. John’s, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush that prioritize spaces for health care workers based on need. We have introduced medical benefits to support the professionalization of the early learning workforce. There are also thousands of parents using the Early Learning Gateway, and we are continuously adding features such as a substitute list for early childhood educators that is available to all regulated child care services. We are making great progress increasing affordable early learning and child care spaces. We will continue this work so that all children and families are able to access the early learning and child care services they need while contributing to an inclusive and thriving province."

Excerpt: "The federal government is investing $876.3 million over five years beginning in 2026-27 to extend that agreement and the Canada New-Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. This will be used to subsidize more than 17,000 child-care spaces in the New Brunswick Early Learning Centre and New Brunswick Early Learning Home designation program, as well as spaces that have been allocated but are not yet open. Additionally, the Canada-New Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Funding Agreement is being extended for one year."

Excerpt: "The National School Food Program is a direct investment into the middle class—making life a little easier for working families. It is also a safety net for the kids who need this support the most. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $15.8 million over the next three years. This investment will mean that school food programs will be available in more schools, to more students."

Excerpt: "Through the National School Food Program, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $7.4 million over the next three years for things like upgrading school food kitchen facilities, purchasing food and offering more nutritious meals to students. These enhancements are particularly significant for remote communities in the Yukon and will provide children most affected by food insecurity with access to more consistent and nutritious meals at school."

Excerpt: "The National School Food Program is a direct investment into the middle class – helping teachers and making mornings a little easier for working families. It is also a safety net for the kids who need this support the most. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $42.2 million over the next three years. Alberta will work with school jurisdictions to maximize the impact of federal funding to feed more kids and enhance existing nutrition programs for Alberta’s students. This includes serving healthier meals, ensuring adequate staff for food preparation, and purchasing needed equipment and infrastructure to support program implementation."

Excerpt: "“The federal government is committing more than $5.3 billion over five years. This investment will assist our government in supporting families throughout our province as we work to make child care a core service people can rely on. Access to affordable and quality child care is life-changing for parents and it’s good for our communities and our economy as a whole. “From speaking with constituents, families and advocates, we know the relief that comes with securing quality child care you can afford. The additional federal funding over the next five years will assist our government in continuing to make child care more affordable for families. By increasing access to child care, this funding will support early childhood educators and others in the child care workforce to deliver the quality child care families need."

Excerpt: "Today, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia’s Minister of Education and Child Care, announced an agreement that will enable British Columbia to enhance school food programs for 90,000 kids in just over 1,000 schools across the province this school year. With this agreement, families in British Columbia with two children in school can save an estimated $800 in grocery bills a year on average. Our National School Food Program is a direct investment into the middle class—helping teachers and making mornings a little easier for working families. It is also a safety net for the kids who need this support the most. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $39.4 million over the next three years to enhance school food programs in the province to feed more kids, including in rural and remote areas. This investment will mean important improvements to school food programs such as increasing the number students served, purchasing much-needed school kitchen equipment, and increasing the nutrition of school meals which will provide more inclusive menu options that take into account dietary restrictions and cultural preferences."

Excerpt: "Through this agreement, the Government of Canada will provide approximately $65.2 million over the next three years in federal support for the government of Quebec’s school food programs. The agreement also recognizes Quebec’s jurisdiction in education. This federal investment will support and improve school food services in Quebec, while providing more students in Quebec with nutritious meals and snacks while at school, giving them the best possible opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential."

Excerpt: "Under their Agreements, provinces and territories have committed to creating more than 250,000 new child care spaces across the country by March 2026. As of February 2025, provinces and territories have announced measures to create over 150,000 new child care spaces, representing a 16 percent increase for children aged 0-5 since 2019."

Excerpt: "As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest $7.4 million over the next three years to enhance and expand the Territory’s existing Healthy Food for Learning program, providing enhanced programming to 8,615 kids across all 49 schools in the territory this year. Federal investments will be put toward purchasing new kitchen equipment and upgrading kitchens, hiring new staff dedicated to school food programming and coordination, increasing availability of traditional foods, and improving the nutritional value of meal options. Schools in the territories have taken a collaborative approach to building and addressing their school food programs needs by working together with local business partners, elders, educators and students."

Excerpt: "Today, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, alongside the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, announced that the federal government has reached early learning and child care extension agreements with 11 out of 13 provinces and territories, ensuring families get all the supports they need so they can join the workforce or continue their career while raising their kids. With these extensions, provinces and territories will receive $36.8 billion to move forward on progress to create new child care spaces, reduce waitlists, and hire more early childhood educators across the country. Affordable child care is good for kids and parents, and it’s good for the economy as well. With this increased and continued investment in early learning and child care, more parents – especially women – can enter the workforce and advance their careers. That means more good-paying jobs, more opportunities for early childhood educators, more economic growth across our communities, and a stronger, fairer Canada for everyone. It is estimated that for every dollar invested in child care, the economy gets $2.80 in return – a testament to the fact that affordable child care is good for families, and good for our country."