Excerpts from the agreement:
The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador have developed this Agreement-in-Principle 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, Newfoundland and Labrador commits to work with its 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.
Newfoundland and Labrador's vision is to build on its significant investments to date, creating an early learning and child care system that focuses on quality, affordability, accessibility and developmental.
Over the past seven years, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has made significant progress in the capacity and quality of early learning and child care services.
Initiatives include: introduction of new child care services legislation and policy based on current best practices; introduction and support of regulated family child care and infant care; significant increases in subsidy levels for low income families; supports for training and development of a certification system for early childhood educators and providers; an educational supplement; supply and equipment grants; introduction of a quality enhancement initiative; support for children with special needs; and increased professional services.
Further building on Newfoundland and Labrador's early learning and child care system will require time, shared commitment, and collaboration, as well as incremental, predictable and sustained investments over the long term. This Agreement will help the province achieve its long-term vision.
The federal budget announced that the Government of Canada is committing $5 billion nationally over the next five years. Newfoundland and Labrador will be committing all additional federal money for early learning and child care to the fulfillment of this Agreement.
This further investment will complement existing federal and provincial investments in Newfoundland and Labrador and will support the on-going development of regulated early learning and child care as a key element of a comprehensive approach to supporting children and families.
This initiative builds on early learning and child care investments made in Newfoundland and Labrador by the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada and recognizes that flexibility is needed to address provincial priorities and circumstances.