The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories announced today a three-year action plan to improve and expand licensed early learning and child care (ELCC) programming across the territory. The 2023 to 2026 action plan covers investments outlined in the Canada-Northwest Territories Canada-wide ELCC Agreement - 2021 to 2026 and the Canada-Northwest Territories ELCC Agreement - 2021 to 2025. The action plan sets a road map for strengthening and expanding the ELCC sector and improving access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive ELCC opportunities for families throughout the territory. It builds on progress achieved to date during the first two years of both agreements.
Through this action plan, Canada's investments support five key areas:
Affordability
- Over $25 million toward achieving an average of $10-a-day for child care fees. This investment has made licensed ELCC programming more affordable for all families, regardless of their income or location in the territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories had already reduced out-of-pocket child care fees by an average of 60% as of April 1, 2023, and will reach an average of $10-a-day per child by April 1, 2024, for all licensed ELCC spaces.
Access
- $770,000 toward preserving and expanding licensed spaces. This investment includes health and safety funding to support repairs and maintenance required during the licensing and inspection process, and start-up funding to purchase supplies, material, and other costs incurred when setting up a new licensed program.
Inclusion
- In addition to territorial investments, $135,000 dedicated to developing a renewed approach to inclusion. This investment aims to ensure all children experience safe and nurturing environments, including Indigenous children and children needing enhanced or individual supports to fully participate in early learning.
Quality
- More than $30 million toward initiatives that support the ELCC workforce. This investment will focus on providing professional learning and development, funding post-secondary institutions to offer ELCC education programs, and providing scholarships to part- and full-time post-secondary students enrolled in early childhood development programs. This investment will also help develop a wage grid, with an implementation target date in 2024-2025.
Administration and reporting
- Almost $5 million toward building targeted capacity and additional resources within the Government of the Northwest Territories to support licensed ELCC space creation, enhance access, and improve reporting capacity.
Building a Canada-wide ELCC system that works for families in every region of the country is a key part of the Government of Canada's plan to make life more affordable for families, while also creating employment opportunities and growing the economy.
