News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "Canada-wide early learning and child care transfer payments are expected to increase from $7.9 billion in 2025-26 to $8.5 billion in 2029-30, reflecting 3 per cent per year growth for four years starting in 2027-28 as announced in 2025. This also includes $625 million over four years, beginning in 2023-24, for the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund."

Excerpt: "Alberta’s government will work with school boards to gather yearly data on class sizes and composition. This information will be used to better understand staffing, student needs and classroom complexity. School boards will be required to submit data on Alberta classrooms by Nov. 24, and by January, this data will be made publicly available and will then be released annually."

Excerpt: "The Manitoba government has added 832 teaching positions across the province since October 2023, increasing the number of funded teachers to 13,903 total teachers this fiscal year from 13,071 in 2023-24, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today, adding this major investment is part of a broader commitment to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed."

Excerpt: "Today, Okanese First Nation is celebrating the grand opening of its newly-constructed Okanese Aboriginal Head Start On-Reserve Building—a vibrant, community-driven space dedicated to nurturing early childhood development and school readiness. This new facility replaces the original learning centre built in 1976, marking a renewed commitment to the community’s youngest members. Designed through meaningful consultation with community members, leaders, and Elders, the building reflects the values and traditions of Okanese First Nation, with a strong emphasis on land-based learning and cultural connection. The centre offers a nurturing environment by bringing together spaces for play, quiet reflection, wellness, and cultural learning, all under one roof."

Excerpt: "This new child care centre will include 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, 100 spaces for children 30 months to school age, and 24 spaces for school-age children. These new spaces will be in addition to more than 500 child care spaces in Columbia Valley and the surrounding area funded through ChildCareBC programs, which help meet the needs of local families."

Excerpt: "Openness, transparency and accountability are guiding principles of the Government of Canada, and we agree with the Auditor General that regular analysis and reporting on the Canada-wide system is essential to protect its integrity and ensure it continues to empower families by meeting their evolving needs. More work is needed to improve reporting practices. We are working with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners to provide Canadians with clear and accurate information on the progress being made to build a stronger system, reduce costs and empower families across the country."

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is investing $43.9 million over three years to continue the province’s After School Program (ASP), keeping more than 13,000 children and youth in underserved communities active and healthy each year. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, this funding will ensure the ASP can continue to provide safe, supervised activities and tutoring for students, along with nutritious snacks, at low or no cost, setting them up for success, inside and outside the classroom."

Excerpt: "Families in 14 communities throughout the province will benefit from more than 900 new licensed child care spaces that will open this fall, expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care. “Families throughout British Columbia are seeing new child care spaces open in their communities, giving families real options they can count on,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Education and Child Care. “These spaces mean shorter waitlists, more access to affordable, high-quality child care and peace of mind for parents, knowing children are learning in safe, supportive environments. This is about making life easier for parents today, while investing in stronger communities for generations to come.”"

Excerpt: "The Landmark YMCA child care centre includes 12 spaces for infant-toddlers and 41 spaces for children 2.5 years to school age. Situated in the heart of Kelowna at Landmark District, a 15-acre business community, the centre will help provide convenient access for local families and working professionals. “The opening of the Landmark YMCA child care centre is a testament to what we can achieve when community partners come together with a shared vision,” said Alyson Graf, president and CEO, YMCA of Southern Interior BC. “We are proud to help Kelowna families access the quality child care they deserve, right where they live and work. This centre reflects our ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone.”"

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is protecting students by increasing its investment in the Student Nutrition Program (SNP) and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program (FNSNP) by $5 million, for a total investment of $37.5 million this year. The two programs will serve more than 800,000 students, projected to deliver over 140 million healthy meals and snacks under the Student Nutrition Program and more than 1.4 million meals and snacks to students in Indigenous communities this school year."

Excerpt: "“By investing in new child-care spaces like those at Riverview Health Centre, we’re making it easier for parents – especially the nurses, physicians, aides and allied health professionals working in health care – to access high-quality, inclusive care close to where they work. The development of these 80 new spaces will help us continue to recruit more front-line staff to our health-care system.” “This new child-care centre at Riverview Health Centre is an example of the Manitoba government’s vision for Canada-wide early learning and child care – affordable, quality and accessible child care that responds to the needs of children, parents and the wider community,” said Gainey. “Families will have access to child care close to home and to their workplace, helping them save time and money while ensuring children receive the best possible start in life.”"

Excerpt: "To deliver that change, we will take bold action and make responsible choices. Budget 2025 will spend less on government operations and reduce waste, so we can invest more to grow our economy and to protect the programs that make life more affordable for you. To that end, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced key measures today from the upcoming federal Budget that will lower costs and protect essential programs that empower Canadians: Starting automatic federal benefits for the 2026 tax year that will reach up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians by the 2028 tax year. The CRA will automatically file these individuals’ taxes to ensure they receive government benefits they qualify for, such as the GST/HST credit, the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Disability Benefit, and more – including benefits that these Canadians may not be aware they are entitled to; Making the National School Food Program permanent to provide meals for up to 400,000 children. This program ensures kids are fed healthy meals at school and saves families with two children $800 per year on groceries. By making it permanent, we will work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand the program into more schools across Canada; Renewing the Canada Strong Pass for the holidays and for summer 2026 so children and young families can discover Canada with lower costs. It will be renewed from December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026, and then again for summer 2026. This also helps students travelling home for the holidays with a 25% discount on VIA Rail for young adults aged 18 to 24. With the Canada Strong Pass, Canadians can visit national, provincial, and territorial museums, historic sites, parks, and travel by rail for free or at a reduced cost."