Excerpts from the Agreement:
The Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba have developed this bilateral agreement to articulate their shared vision for early learning and child care and to describe specific objectives and investments to achieve this vision. At the same time, Manitoba commits to participating with federal, provincial and territorial partners in a multilateral process to create an overarching early learning and child care framework for all Canadians, which meets the unique circumstances and priorities of each jurisdiction.
In February 2001, the Manitoba government asked for public feedback on the Child Day Care Regulatory Review Committee's report "A Vision for Child Care and Development in Manitoba." Over 24,000 Manitobans responded, with most expressing support for the concept of an affordable, accessible, high quality, universal child care system. In 2002, Manitoba announced the Five-Year Plan for Child Care. That plan commits to an additional 5,000 funded spaces, increased wages and training opportunities and increased subsidies.
Manitoba's plan advances three major elements over the five-year period:
- maintaining and improving quality;
- improving accessibility; and
- improving affordability.
The Plan includes specific targets in many areas and commits Manitoba to continue to engage the broader community as it develops its early learning and child care system.
The federal budget announced that the Government of Canada will join Manitoba in its strong commitment to early learning and child care, committing $5 billion nationally over the next five years. Manitoba will be committing all additional federal money for early learning and child care to the fulfillment of the five-year plan. This further investment will build upon one of the best child care systems in the country. By making early investments in support of Manitoba's early learning and child care system, the Province has made tremendous progress. Child care funding in Manitoba has increased by 64%, with an additional 3,500 funded spaces since 1999.
Manitoba will complete a preliminary Action Plan covering the timeframe for new federal
funding by July 1, 2005.
Manitoba and Canada will work together to conclude a multi-year funding agreement by July 1, 2005 for the period 2006-2007 to 2009-2010.