News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Except: "The Manitoba government has established a commission to look at ways to redesign Manitoba’s early learning and child-care system to guide future plans including developing options to create universally accessible early learning and child care for all Manitoba families who need it, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said today."

Excerpt: "“Our government has been building one of the best early learning and child-care systems in Canada. Today, I am happy to announce our government is continuing to build on that system by supporting a child-care expansion of up to 6,000 sq. ft. at Harrow School,” said Bjornson. “Early childhood education is critical for laying the foundation for Manitoba’s children to get a good start in life and child care gives parents the option to go back to work or return to school.”"

Excerpt: "Manitoba Government Introduces Important Legislation that Would Help Students Succeed in Early Years. The Manitoba government is investing $10 million this year and 64 per cent of classes have met the target of 20 students or fewer, Minister Bjornson said. Under the proposed legislation, Manitoba parents would also be able to go online to see class size number in kindergarten to Grade 3 in every school."

Excerpt: "Having access to quality and affordable child care is essential for parents returning to work, pursuing higher education, or looking for their first job. Working together with parents, communities and child care workers, Manitoba has built one of the best early learning and child care systems in Canada – with over 14,000 newly funded spaces, over 100 new and expanded child care centres, and the lowest fees in Canada outside Quebec."

Excerpt: "The Manitoba government is announcing details of the Family Choices Building Fund as part of the recently launched five-year plan to create more high-quality child care for families across the province, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said today."

Excerpt: "Licensed early learning and child care is an important support for many Manitoba families. As more families choose to make Manitoba their home, we are continuing to build and look for ways to improve early learning and child care across our province."

Excerpt: "The Government of Manitoba is launching a new five-year plan to create more high-quality child care for families across the province including investing in 5,000 more child-care spaces and another 20 new or expanded child-care centres, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today."

Excerpt: "$5.5 million to boost child-care spaces and improve wages. Budget 2014 is the Manitoba government’s plan to create good jobs and grow Manitoba’s economy – while protecting the frontlines of services that families count on. A key part of this budget is a $5.5 billion Five-Year Plan that will build our core infrastructure like highways, bridges, flood protection and municipal infrastructure. These investments will stimulate our economy, keep businesses growing and create job and training opportunities for families."

Excerpt: "It is estimated that more than 90 per cent of ECEs currently working in the sector, or 2,500 individuals, will see an increase in wages. ECE Level I will receive an increase of up to $1.50 per hour; ECE Level II will receive an increase of up to $2.00 per hour, and ECE Level III will receive up to $2.50 an hour. Compared to September 2022, this is approximately an eight per cent increase, on average, in the hourly wages for ECEs in the province. The ECE Wage Enhancement grant is also being expanded to include assistants working in group family child care homes who have an ECE certification. Certified assistants will be eligible to receive an ECE Wage Enhancement grant of up to $7.50 per hour, bringing them in line with the wage increases provided to ECEs working in child care centres in 2021-22 and 2022-23."

Budget 2014 is the Manitoba government’s plan to create good jobs and grow Manitoba’s economy – while protecting the frontlines of services that families count on.

Excerpt: "Families in Winnipeg, St. Andrews and Oak Lake will have greater access to some of the best, most affordable licensed child care in Canada with the creation of more than 250 new child-care spaces at four new centres and one existing site, Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum announced today."

The Government of Manitoba acknowledges the failure of the child welfare system to protect Phoenix Sinclair and will immediately act on the recommendations of the Hughes inquiry and continue strengthening protections for children in Manitoba, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said today.