Our government has invested considerable time and financial resources in strengthening regulated child care and educating students. We know the work is not complete and Budget 2022 reflects our continued efforts to enhance opportunities for children and youth. A stronger population means stronger communities and we continue to work with municipalities to ensure they can provide the everyday programs and access quality infrastructure.

Early Learning

Readily accessible and affordable early learning and child care gives children a strong foundation, allows parents to participate in the workforce and leads to stronger families. Building on hundreds of millions of dollars in investment to date, Budget 2022 includes $94.7 million through the Provincial-Federal Action Plan, including:

• Almost $46 million to continue the reduction in daily fees to $10 per day by 2023.
• $16 million for the creation of new regulated early learning spaces, including the launch of a pre-kindergarten pilot program. Supports plans to create nearly 6,000 new regulated early learning spaces by 2026.
• $3 million to increase seats in post-secondary Early Childhood Education programs.
• $400,000 to support a wage grid analysis and implementation that will ensure early childhood educators are paid a wage that reflects their important work.

K-12 Education

Projected K-12 enrollment for the 2022-23 school year shows an increase of almost 1,000 students, reversing a trend that is almost 50 years old. With more students come additional investments and supports, supported by savings from the ongoing Newfoundland and Labrador English School District transition. Budget 2022 includes:

• $11.6 million increase in the teaching services budget, including $3.1 million to meet demands associated with the increase in projected enrollment, as well as funding for substitute teachers and guidance counsellors.
• $25 million to maintain school-based reading specialists, teaching and learning assistants, teacher librarians and English-as-a-second-language teachers added through the Education Action Plan.
• $6.6 million for a new K-12 Francophone school on the Avalon Peninsula at the site of the former School for the Deaf.
• $750,000 to support recruitment efforts for French language schools.
• Support for the ongoing review of class sizes and the teacher allocation model.

School Infrastructure

Budget 2022 includes investments to begin planning for new schools in:

• Cartwright.
• Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
• Kenmount Terrace in St. John’s.
• Redevelopment of Dorset Collegiate in Pilley’s Island.

Post-Secondary Education

Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic receive national and international recognition for the work they do in preparing post-secondary students for the economy. With leading-edge programs and facilities, students from home and abroad can be confident that they are getting the education and training they need with help from Budget 2022:

• Memorial University’s core operating grant is maintained at $305.1 million plus an additional $54.3 million for the Faculty of Medicine.
• College of the North Atlantic will continue to innovate and meet labour market needs through the $66.5 million operating grant.
• The annual tuition offset, which is being phased out, is more than $60 million. There is a one-time additional investment of $6 million to assist the university with the transition.
• To ease the financial burden on students who rely on loans and grants, an investment of $18.6 million supports the country’s most generous student aid program, including the new Tuition Relief Grant.

Growing Communities

Increasing diversity and inclusion make us stronger. 2021 was an important year for population growth in Newfoundland and Labrador as Government endorsed more newcomers for permanent residency in one week than in all of 2007. Budget 2022 sees us continue work to create opportunities for all residents of the province and build on what makes Newfoundland and Labrador an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. This includes:

• $5.8 million to foster inclusion and diversity, attract and support newcomers, match employers with qualified workers, and support continuing actions of the Ministerial Committee on Anti-Racism.
• $1 million in immediate supports for Ukrainians who take refuge in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Workforce Development

• Over $208 million to support workers, employers and community organizations to capitalize on labour demand opportunities.