This Issue File collects information on how early childhood education and care (ECEC) is addressed in the 2013 provincial/territorial budgets. Each section features government budget documents, media coverage, and responses from NGOs when available. Use the menu on the right to select a province or territory.
Budget website [3]
News release [4]
Reviews are underway in the departments of Health, Education and Early Childhood Development, Social Development, and Transportation and Infrastructure to identify efficiencies in service delivery.
"New Brunswickers who are being asked to contribute a little more in this budget need to be assured that we are committed to spending their tax dollars prudently," said Higgs, "Various efficiency measures have been rolled out across all departmental budgets to offset inflationary and service demand pressures and to allow for select new investments."
Savings are allowing for a select number of new investments totalling $70 million to be made in 2013-14 including:
● $16 million in 2013-14 as part of a five-year, $80-million investment in innovation in order to jump start the economy;
● the establishment of the new Energy Institute;
● increases for a number of poverty-reduction initiatives including social assistance rate increases and improvements;
● additional funding for special care homes, specialized care beds, and community residences and funding for the nursing home renovation and replacement plan;
● the continued roll-out of the diabetes and mental health strategies; and
● increased funding for early childhood development.
Income tax increase will cost some thousands more [5], CBC News, 28 Mar 13
Budget website [6]
Health and Social Services has budgeted $429,000 for the enhancement of the Homecare program. We are also increasing support services to children and adults with disabilities. Examples include: $50,000 for the Handibus; $364,000 to support adults with disabilities day programming and residential services; $200,000 to increase access to services and equipment for children with disabilities; and provision for an additional speech and language pathologist position at the Child Development Centre.
Yukon Premier announces $72.8M surplus budget [7], CBC News, 21 Mar 13
Support childcare workers [8], Yukon News, 8 Mar 13
Budget website [9]
Under Budget 2013, funding for child care is $269.7 million, an increase of $5 million. Families will continue to be supported through child care subsidy benefits that offset the cost of child care. Also, funding will continue to be available to eligible programs and staff to support high quality child care through wage top-ups and professional development and the recruitment and retention of qualified child care staff.
Human Services, like all ministries, was asked to examine operations to ensure that we are using our resources as effectively as possible to get the best possible results for Albertans. The Quality Funding grant, administered under the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program, will no longer be provided as of April 1, 2013. This change will ensure key supports and incentives continue to be in place. Wage top-ups of up to $6.62 per hour; benefit contribution grant to offset the mandatory employer contributions on the wage top-ups; professional development of up to $1,000 per year; and staff attraction incentive allowance of $2,500 per year will continue to be available.
Provincial Child Care Investments 2013 [10]
Provincial Budget 2013: Letter to Child Care Operators [11]
Questions and Answers: Discontinuation of the Quality Funding Grant [12]
Childcare advocates shocked government to cut quality funding [13], Public Interest Albert, 25 Mar 13
Childcare advocates concerned over axing grant [14], CTV News, 25 Apr 13
Budget website [15]
Within the balanced budget, government is introducing new measures to benefit B.C. families and help make family life more affordable, including:
...A new B.C. Early Childhood Tax Benefit will provide $146 million to approximately 180,000 families with children under six years old, effective April 1, 2015. Families with young children can receive up to $55 per child, per month. Most will receive the full amount, while those with family incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 a year will receive a partial benefit. About 90 per cent of B.C. families with young children are expected to be eligible.
B.C.'s new Early Years Strategy will invest $76 million over three years to support the creation of new child care spaces and improve the quality of child care and early years services. Included within this, $32 million will support the creation of new child care spaces and $37 million will improve the quality of services available.
The families agenda for British Columbia: Building a sustainable quality early years strategy to support BC families [16], Government of BC, 20 Feb 12
Time for B.C. to invest in $10 a day child care. Opinion: Families squeezed between unaffordable housing and exorbitant child care, Vancouver Sun, 18 Feb 13
Budget 2013 'not very good for young people': advocates [17], The Tyee, 18 Feb 13
Affordable child care promised in Tuesday budget, but $10-a-day system ruled out [18], Times Colonist, 16 Feb 13
Child-focused B.C. budget programs come cheap: Christy Clark's 'families first' focus gets big portion of little government has to spend [19], CBC News, 20 Feb 13
Assessing BC's Fiscal Health: Can BC afford more deficits? [20], CCPA Policy note, 17 Apr 13
Budget website [21]
BUDGET 2013 INVESTS IN MORE CHILD CARE SPACES TO HELP MANITOBA FAMILIES: PREMIER [22], News release, 1 May 13
Still waiting for the thaw [23] - CCPA Manitoba analysis, 17 Apr 13
"Although we don't know the details, there is a commitment to new spending in early childhood development and parenting support."
NDP tables 'inequality and poverty budget' [24], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 Apr 13
Budget website [25]
Backgrounder - Key Investments for Child, Youth and Family Services in budget 2013 [26]
Caring for our future: Provincial strategy for quality, sufficient and affordable child care in Newfoundland and Labrador 2012 - 2022 (link to "Caring for our future" is no longer available)
...
Excerpts from backgrounder:
10-Year Child Care Strategy
Budget 2013 allocates an investment of $31.1 million in 2013-14 for child care in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a focus on continuing the implementation of Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Key investments under the strategy include:
Child Care Services Subsidy Program
$14.3 million to assist eligible families with child care rates in a licensed child care centre or a regulated family child care home through the Child Care Services Subsidy Program. A review of the program will take place during this fiscal year to ensure the program is streamlined and effective for parents, program operators and family child care providers.
Early Learning and Child Care Supplement
$5.8 million for the Early Learning and Child Care Supplement, which will include qualified Level I early childhood educators working directly with children in a homeroom to receive an annual increase of $3,330 for a total supplement of $6,660 and Level II program operators to receive an annual increase of $3,340 for a total supplement of $10,000, both of which will become effective April 1, 2013.
Child Care Capacity Initiative
$1.8 million for the Child Care Capacity Initiative, which provides start-up grants for non-profit community-based organizations offering child care services.
Inclusion Program
$1.6 million to provide additional staff or funded spaces to accommodate all children in regular programming through the Inclusion Supports Program.
Family Child Care Initiative
$1 million to continue the Family Child Care Initiative as it provides much needed regulated child care spaces with an emphasis on spaces for infants. The initiative will help further stimulate the economy by providing people, especially women, with opportunities to enter and remain in the labour market either by becoming a regulated family child care provider or by availing of the regulated family child care spaces.
Workplace Training Program
$500,000 will be invested to develop and commence a workplace training program that will include prior learning and assessment and recognition to support upgrading of early childhood educator qualifications.
Community Needs Assessment Tool
$50,000 to assist in identifying greatest needs and exploring opportunities to develop child care spaces in areas identified as priorities through a new community needs assessment tool. This new tool will support growth of child care services in targeted areas with a focus on the labour market needs of communities.
Centralized Child Care Registry
$20,000 to develop and maintain a centralized child care registry that will assist in determining and addressing ongoing and future need for child care throughout the province.
Public libraries dealt $1.2M budget cut [27], CBC News, 27 Mar 13
Budget documents [28]
Prevention is also about getting all of our children off to the right start so that happy and healthy childhoods lay the foundation for healthy and productive adults. Every year there are over 700 births in the NWT or about two babies every day. This Budget makes several investments that will put those little ones on the best possible footing.
This year the GNWT invested over $1 million in early childhood development. As part of this, work is underway for a renewed framework for early childhood development in the NWT, a public awareness campaign and the opening of Child and Family Resource Centres in two communities. This investment in promoting healthy childhoods will continue in 2013-14.
We know that support for mothers during pregnancy and childbirth contributes significantly to how well their children do later on. Midwifery services can be an important component of this support. This Budget invests $449,000 as a first step to expand access to midwifery care throughout the NWT. This investment will stabilize Fort Smith's Midwifery Program, establish a set of program standards, engage communities on expanding the program further, and support planning activities for a Hay River Community Midwifery Program.
Budget website [29]
Budget bulletin: Putting kids & Learning first [30]
Helping Children in the Early Years
Budget 2013 will:
•establish children's centres so it is easier for families to access support services for their young kids and help them make a successful transition to elementary school-$1.2 million
•expand the ability of teachers to assess the developmental health of their students in critical areas like physical well-being, emotional maturity, social skills, and language-$70,000
Strengthening connections, connecting communities: Nova Scotia Alternative Provincial Budget 2013, [31]Canadian Centres for Policy Alternatives, 26 Mar 13 [31]
The Consensus: Building a System of Early Learning and Child Care
The message from the consultation process is clear. Nova Scotia needs a planned approach, developed in close consultation with the community. There is a consensus that we need a system. The NsaPB suggests that the following are fundamental principles for an elCC system in Nova Scotia: universality, quality, developmentally appropriate, non-profit, democratic-ally governed, and appropriate for First Nations
NS budget misses opportunity to reshape child care services-CUPE [32], Market Wired, 4 Apr 13
Nova Scotia throne speech announces new department for child care [33], Government of Nova Scotia, 26 Mar 13
New poll shows Nova Scotians strongly support government role in child care [34], CUPE, 7 Mar 13
Budget website [35]
Investments: The GN is investing across government priorities. Highlights include:
o $1.9 million (M) in the Pathway for Adult Secondary School (PASS), a program to help Nunavut's adults earn their high school diplomas.
o $7.0 M to the Department of Culture and Heritage, to promote the equal status of Inuktitut, English and French and to help GN departments and agencies meet their language obligations.
o $4.2 M to hamlets through a new Municipal Funding Formula, which will help hamlets improve their services to Nunavummiut.
o $1.4 M to support the GN's participation in assessments of major mining projects, so we continue to ensure a high standard of environmental stewardship in sustainable development.
Aboriginal Language Gets Official Status in Nunavut, Canada [36], O Murray J. Brown, 9 Apr 13
Budget webpage [37]
Early Learning
The government's commitment to giving Ontario's youngest students the best start to their education will ensure all children start with the same firm footing. It will also help build the foundation for a strong workforce and economy.
The government continues to build on its vision for an integrated early years program and services that meet the needs of Ontario's children and parents. The Ontario Early Years Policy Framework focuses on ensuring that children from birth to age six have the best possible start in life, through such measures as the successful implementation of full-day kindergarten and protection of the child care system.
In September 2012, full-day kindergarten was available in 1,700 schools, benefiting 122,000 children, and next fall the program will reach about 184,000 children in 2,600 schools across Ontario. When fully implemented in September 2014, the program will be available to all of Ontario's four- and five-year-olds, or approximately 265,000 children.
In the 2012 Budget, the government announced additional funding of $90 million in 2012-13, $68 million in 2013-14 and $84 million in 2014-15 to support child care operators, parents and children to seamlessly transition into full-day kindergarten. This has been an important part of the early years vision. The government is announcing an additional $39 million in 2015-16 to support the child care system.
As part of the initiatives to modernize the child care sector, a new funding formula and funding framework were recently implemented. These new tools will allocate provincial child care funds in a way that better responds to service demands and will allow municipalities to better manage the system at the local level.
More support for low-income families: Ontario government proposes increase in child benefit [38], Government of Ontario news release, 6 May 13
Child Care Missing from Ontario Budget [39], Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
Ontario Budget 2013: Four More Years of Austerity [40], Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Budget 2013: Strong steps forward but still missing the target [41], Campaign 2000 Ontario
Ontario budget: Key facts and highlights [42], CBC News, 2 May 13
Austerity is holding back Ontario's economy, [43] Toronto Star, 20 Mar 13
Budget webpage [44]
Backgrounder: Education and early childhood development [45]
2013-2014 Budget Highlights
• The total budget for 2013-2014 will increase by $1.6 million to a Total of $230.9 million.• Through the school board amalgamation process, approximately $750,000 will be realized on an annual basis.
• An additional $250,000 will be budgeted for the early learning centres for 2013-14.
•The Best Start program is being expanded to 36 months with additional funding of $60,000 last year and a further $60,000 this year
P.E.I. budget 2013-14: Where the money went [46], CBC News, 2 Apr 13
Budget [47]
Press release - A government close to families [48]
One child, one space
"Many families still have problems finding daycare spaces for their children. Nearly 222 000 spaces have been created, but needs are estimated at 250 000 spaces. I am announcing that we will fund 28 000 new spaces at $7, which will fulfill these needs. We will finally be able to say with pride: one child, one space," the Minister proudly declared.
Quebec on track to balance budget next year: finance minister [49], Montreal Gazette, 28 Mar 13
Quebec government, CPEs reach agreement on cuts: Minister confirms financing of $7-a-day system to be reviewed [50], CBC News, 12 Apr 13
Main budget website [51]
News release - Budget invests in education [51]
The government is also continuing the commitment made to increase early learning opportunities and the number of licensed child care spaces. This budget provides an increase of nearly $600.000 for expansion of 15 new Pre Kindergarten programs as well as $1.0 million in capital support. As well, this budget meets the commitment to create 500 additional child care spaces in 2013-14 by providing $2.3 million in operating funding as well as capital support for eligible school based sites.
Saskatchewan 2013 budget: Balanced growth or fiscal myopia? [52], Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 21 Mar 13
Education budget a boost to early years, [53]Star Phoenix, 20 Mar 13
Links
[1] https://childcarecanada.org/category/tags/budget
[2] https://childcarecanada.org/category/tags/funding
[3] http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/finance.html
[4] http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2013.03.0255.html
[5] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/income-tax-increase-will-cost-some-thousands-more-1.1311862
[6] http://www.finance.gov.yk.ca/general/publications.html
[7] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-premier-announces-72-8m-surplus-budget-1.1406768
[8] https://www.yukon-news.com/letters-opinions/support-childcare-workers/
[9] http://budget2013.alberta.ca/
[10] http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/2013-14-Provincial-Child-Care-Investments.pdf
[11] http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/Provincial-Budget-2013-Letter-to-Child-Care-Operators.pdf
[12] http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/Questions-and-Answers-Discontinuation-of-QF.pdf
[13] https://www.pialberta.org/content/childcare-advocates-shocked-government-cut-quality-funding
[14] https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/childcare-advocates-concerned-over-axing-grant-1.1211094
[15] http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2013/default.htm
[16] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/02/families-agenda-british-columbia-building-sustainable-quali
[17] https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/02/19/Budget-2013-not-very-good-for-young-people/
[18] https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/affordable-child-care-promised-in-tuesday-budget-but-10-a-day-system-ruled-out-1.75658
[19] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/child-focused-b-c-budget-programs-come-cheap-1.1348863
[20] https://www.policynote.ca/assessing-bcs-fiscal-health-can-bc-afford-more-deficits/
[21] http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/budget2013.html
[22] http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=today&item=17291
[23] http://policyfix.ca/2013/04/17/still-waiting-for-the-thaw/
[24] https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/budget/ndp-tables-inequality-and-poverty-budget-203543831.html
[25] http://www.budget.gov.nl.ca/budget2013/speech/default.htm
[26] http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/cyfs/0326n20.htm
[27] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/public-libraries-dealt-1-2m-budget-cut-1.1367901
[28] http://www.fin.gov.nt.ca/Node/8530
[29] http://www.novascotia.ca/finance/en/home/budget/default.aspx
[30] http://www.novascotia.ca/finance/site-finance/media/finance/budget2013/Kids_and_Learning_First_Bulletin.pdf
[31] https://childcarecanada.org/Nova%20Scotia%20Alternative%20Provincial%20Budget%202013
[32] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/13/04/ns-budget-misses-opportunity-reshape-child-care-services-cupe
[33] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/04/nova-scotia-throne-speech-announces-new-department-child-ca
[34] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/13/03/new-poll-shows-nova-scotians-strongly-support-government-ro
[35] https://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/files/Finance/Budgets/2013-14%20budgets/2013-14_GNBudgetHighlights.pdf
[36] https://old.mjbrown.com/2019-03-31/aboriginal-language-gets-official-status-in-nunavut-canada/index.html
[37] https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2013/
[38] http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2013/05/more-support-for-low-income-families.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p
[39] https://www.childcareontario.org/?p=6428
[40] http://behindthenumbers.ca/2013/05/02/ontario-budget-2013-four-more-years-of-austerity/
[41] http://campaign2000.ca/Ontario/ONCampaign2000MediaReleaseOntarioBudget2013.pdf
[42] https://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/cp-ontario-budget-13/
[43] https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/03/20/austerity_is_holding_back_ontarios_economy.html
[44] http://www.gov.pe.ca/budget/
[45] http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/fema_bgtedu13.pdf
[46] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/p-e-i-budget-2013-14-where-the-money-went-1.1308451
[47] http://www.budget.finances.gouv.qc.ca/budget/2013-2014/index_en.asp
[48] http://www.budget.finances.gouv.qc.ca/Budget/2013-2014/en/documents/Communique_1en.pdf
[49] http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Quebec+track+balance+budget+next+year+finance+minister/8164546/story.html
[50] https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/13/04/quebec-government-cpes-reach-agreement-cuts-minister-confirms-financ
[51] https://www.saskatchewan.ca/finance
[52] http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/behind-numbers/2013/03/saskatchewan-2013-budget-balanced-growth-or-fiscal-myopia
[53] http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Education+budget+boost+early+years/8127664/story.html