Excerpts from the presentation:
Some key ECD accomplishments in Manitoba (1999-2005):
- Child-centred government structures and mechanisms (including first Cabinet committee in Canada dedicated to children and youth)
- Child-centred community structures and mechanisms (including province-wide network of community coalitions for ECD)
- Policy integration of financial and social supports for families (including first prenatal benefit in Canada)
- Multiyear plan for universal, accessible, affordable, and high quality early learning and child care (ELCC)
- Department of Education's ECD initiative (historic first in Manitoba)
- Cabinet and community commitment to longitudinal research, evaluation, and public reporting (including phased-in, province-wide implementation of Early Development Instrument [EDI])
- New annual, cross-departmental, ECD-centred budget process
- First province to sign bilateral agreement on ELCC with Canada