News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The government and the New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation, which represents more than 7,800 teachers, have signed a new collective agreement. “This agreement is about recognizing the incredible work teachers do every day in classrooms across New Brunswick and ensuring teaching remains an attractive and rewarding profession for years to come,” said Premier Susan Holt. “Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of our province, and I am pleased that both sides were able to work together to reach a fair agreement so quickly. By investing in our teachers and supporting recruitment and retention, we are strengthening our schools and helping ensure students across New Brunswick have the opportunities they need to succeed.” The agreement is retroactive to March 1, 2026, and includes a general economic increase of 14.5 per cent over five years."

Excerpt: "The proposed legislation will make online services more accountable and transparent by introducing new safety requirements for social media services and AI chatbot services. It will include an age restriction preventing children under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media services, with a pathway for social media services to seek an exemption if they can demonstrate that they have put in place sufficient safeguards for children. The new requirements will also put children’s safety first when products and features are designed, including measures to reduce children’s exposure to certain content and high-risk interactions. Regulated services will be required to identify, mitigate and address the risks on their platforms."

Excerpt: "Construction has begun on a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in southwest Winnipeg’s Prairie Pointe neighbourhood that will also include a child care centre, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today. “Breaking ground on this new school means Prairie Pointe families will have access to quality learning spaces close to home,” said Schmidt. “As this community continues to grow, it’s important we are building the infrastructure needed to support students and families now and into the future.” The new dual-track French and English kindergarten to Grade 8 school will be located on Skyline Drive and will open with a capacity for 800 students and 134 child-care spaces for infants, preschool and school-aged children, supporting access to early learning for families in the area."

Excerpt: "The inaugural Anti-Racism Action Plan sets out measurable, practical actions government will take from 2026 until 2028 to remove barriers and improve access to services for Indigenous and racialized people in B.C. It covers government sectors, such as health care, public safety, education and climate response. The plan is partly informed by data collected under 2022’s Anti-Racism Data Act (ARDA) and addresses the Anti-Racism Act’s (2024) direction for government to take action to address systemic racism and improve equity in public services."

Excerpt: "The new kindergarten to Grade 8 school will be located at 35 Private Davy Dr. and will have a core capacity of 800 students. The school will also include an integrated child-care centre with up to 134 spaces for infants, preschoolers and school-aged children, giving families access to education and care in the same building. “Child-care spaces on school grounds will help children grow, help families and the wider community get ahead,” said federal Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand, minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. “Families will have access to high-quality child care close to home and to their workplace, helping them save time and money.”"

Excerpt: "The government has unveiled a new education plan for the francophone sector to address the current needs of a population that has changed since the last plan was released in 2016. The new plan sets progressive objectives to ensure continuous improvement, helping children and youth achieve lasting success while taking into account the realities and needs of the francophone sector. The plan’s publication stems from the government’s commitment to develop a new education plan in collaboration with educators, support staff, education experts and partners, and parents to define a shared vision of education over the next 12 years."

Excerpt: "The government has released an education plan for the anglophone sector. Strong Basics, Bright Futures is intended to reflect New Brunswick’s unique realities and respond to the needs of a population that has changed since the last plan was released in 2016. “This plan sets a collaborative long-term vision for education in New Brunswick to build curiosity, confidence and opportunity for every child,” said Premier Susan Holt. “We’re focused on making sure kids have strong basics like literacy and numeracy to set them up for bright futures outside of the classroom. We’ve included key measures and achievement targets so that we can track progress.”"

Excerpt: "Mr. Speaker, the second priority is helping children get support earlier. A portion of this new investment will support early childhood screening, with the first steps starting this fall and full implementation planned for the 2027-2028 school year. Because when we identify needs earlier, children get help before they fall behind, teachers can respond sooner, and families spend less time searching for answers."

Excerpt: "The Department of Education and Early Childhood Education has formed an early childhood educator steering committee that will help guide next steps towards introducing benefits for early childhood educators in Newfoundland and Labrador. The committee will ensure early childhood educators in the province have a forum to make recommendations to government and provide workforce-informed advice on topics such as working conditions, compensation, professional supports, pension options, changes to the provincial early childhood educator wage grid, paid sick leave, recruitment and retention. The new committee consists of 12 early childhood educators, including at least one member from each region of the province, and members representing rural and urban perspectives, Indigenous communities, Francophone communities, family child care providers, and centre-based early childhood educators."

Excerpt: "The $8.5 billion Agreement marks a transformative step toward First Nations-led services that are compassionate and culturally grounded, strengthening families, supporting children, and advancing First Nations self-determination for generations to come. Its goal is clear: fewer First Nations children in care, fewer children entering care for the first time, and more families receiving the support they need before a crisis occurs. Representing over 130 First Nations and nearly a quarter of a million people—including more than 60,000 families—the Chiefs of Ontario, alongside Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s 49 northern communities and approximately 50,000 members, celebrated this historic milestone and the beginning of implementation."

Excerpt: "The funded projects will generate new evidence on what works for school food programs, helping improve their impact on children and families in Canada. These research partnerships will fill key gaps in data and knowledge related to health and well-being of children, especially those facing barriers, as well as program delivery and governance in different jurisdictions and contexts, including in accordance with the National School Food Policy. Selected projects collectively span a range of topic areas, research approaches and geographies—from specific communities or regions to projects with national scope. The National School Food Program (NSFP) is part of the Government of Canada's plan to lower costs for families. It helps 400,000 more children each year access nutritious food at school, while bringing parents more financial security in their household budgets."

Excerpt: "A social initiative supporting vulnerable children and their families will get an additional $600,000 over the next two years. The funding will help Bee Me Kidz continue delivering programs and services for low-income families. These include social and emotional skills development, nutritional support and parental education designed to strengthen the resilience of children and their families, enhance their well-being and support children’s learning potential. With this additional investment, the Department of Social Development’s total contribution will reach $900,000."