The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, is today providing an update on child care space creation and announcing further measures to improve access to affordable regulated early learning and child care throughout the province, as recommended in the recent review of the Operating Grant Program. These initiatives build-on the more than 9,100 early learning and child care spaces operating at $10 a day or less in the province, with over 1,500 child care spaces created since January 2023.
Minister Howell will be available to the media today (Wednesday, April 17) at 1:30 p.m. to discuss these measures. The availability will take place outside the House of Assembly, Confederation Building. Minister Howell will be joined by Davida Smith, Dean of Academics, Applied Arts and Tourism at College of the North Atlantic.
There are currently 2,206 early learning and child care spaces in various stages of development throughout the province, with timelines for operation ranging from one to 24 months. Close to 750 spaces currently in development have received funding through the Child Care Capacity Initiative announced this past fall. A regional breakdown of spaces in development is as follows, with a full list of current capacity projects outlined in the backgrounder:
- Metro St. John’s: 1,191
- Central: 465
- Western: 465
- Labrador: 85
Additional measures have been introduced to support child care service providers, the early learning work force, and further incentivize space creation, including:
- Implementation of an Infant Incentive
- As of April 1, 2024, regulated child care services participating in the Operating Grant Program are receiving an additional $30 per day for each infant-aged space they operate. This will bring the total funding per enrolled infant per operational day to $101 for child care centres and infant-only family child care providers.
- Streamlined Closure Days
- Child care centres and family child care providers will receive funding for up to 12 statutory holidays.
- To support the well-being of the early learning work force, child care centres will receive funding for five additional closure days on top of statutory holidays, which are to be determined at the discretion of the service providers.
- Improvements to Funding Structure
- The former two-tiered funding structure of the Operating Grant Program has been condensed to provide all participating service providers with the same rate at the former higher tier. All regulated child care providers on the Operating Grant Program now receive the same rates based on the age of the child and type of service.
- Supporting Professional Development
- All child care services participating in the Operating Grant Program will continue to receive two paid professional development days. This furthers professionalization of the sector and ensures that early childhood educators and child care workers are able to access professional development without experiencing financial impact.
These actions are part of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
Access to high quality, affordable child care is important for families, the economy and the future of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quotes
“Our government is listening to the needs of the early learning and child care sector and is working to ensure that the needs of the work force are balanced with the needs of children and parents. These additional measures will help to further increase capacity while also supporting the people who are teaching and caring for our province’s youngest residents.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the excellent progress that Newfoundland and Labrador is making to improving early learning and child care across the province. I look forward to continuing to work with the province to support operators and the early learning and child care workforce to help meet the needs of families. When we invest in early learning and child care, we are investing in the future of Canada and ensuring all children have the best possible start in life. ”
Honourable Jenna Sudds
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Government of Canada
“Affordable access to first-rate child care is one of the most vital building blocks of a thriving economy and equitable society. Reliable, regulated child care gives parents more freedom to choose when and how they want to return to work – and when they do, they have peace of mind knowing their children’s early cognitive, social and emotional development is in qualified hands. College of the North Atlantic will continue to work closely with the Provincial Government, supporting the ongoing development of child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Davida Smith
Dean of Academics, Applied Arts and Tourism, College of the North Atlantic
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Learn more
$10-a-day Child Care Now a Reality for Families in Newfoundland and Labrador
Provincial Government Introduces Measures to Increase Enrollment at Regulated Early Learning and Child Care Services and Support Rural and Remote Operators Review of the Operating Grant Program for Child Care Services Completed
Early Childhood Educator Wage Grid
Child Care Capacity Initiative
BACKGROUNDER
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is increasing access to regulated child care through the creation of approximately 6,000 spaces by 2025-2026, as well as improving affordability, inclusivity and quality of early learning and child care programming in Newfoundland and Labrador. This plan is made possible by federal investments in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system. These include $306 million for the 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, a one-time investment of nearly $6.5 million in 2021-2022 to support the early childhood workforce, as well as over $34 million for the 2021-2022 to 2024-2025 Early Learning and Child Care Extension Agreement.
Early Learning and Child Care Spaces in Development
| Capacity Project Name | Location | Region | Number of Spaces |
| Peacock Elementary – Pre-K | Happy Valley-Goose Bay | Labrador | 15 |
| A.P. Low Primary – Pre-K | Labrador City | Labrador | 20 |
| Jens Haven Memorial – Pre-K | Nain | Labrador | 20 |
| Independent Applicant | Wabush | Labrador | 30 |
| Viking Trail Academy – Pre-K | Plum Point | Western | 11 |
| École CC Loughlin Elementary – Pre-K | Corner Brook | Western | 16 |
| Stephenville Primary – Pre-K | Stephenville | Western | 17 |
| Contract Pending | Corner Brook | Western | 32 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – Eastside Elementary | Corner Brook | Western | 34 |
| GNP Community Place | Port au Choix | Western | 16 |
| St. George’s Indian Band | St. George’s | Western | 35 |
| Gros Morne Preschool Daycamp Corp. | Norris Point | Western | 56 |
| Three Rivers Mi’Kmaq Band | Robinsons | Western | 32 |
| Contract Pending | Cape St. George/Mainland | Western | 10 |
| Contract Pending | Deer Lake | Western | 70 |
| FRC-Way 2 Grow | Baie Verte | Western | 43 |
| Contract Pending | Port aux Basques | Western | 26 |
| Independent Applicant | Pasadena | Western | 67 |
| Sacred Heart Academy – Pre-K | Marystown | Central | 15 |
| Helen Tulk Elementary – Pre-K | Bishop’s Falls | Central | 12 |
| Glovertown Academy – Pre-K | Glovertown | Central | 15 |
| A Home Away From Home Infant, Toddler & Preschool | Bay Roberts | Central | 37 |
| Independent Applicant | Whiteway | Central | 41 |
| Independent Applicant | Bay Roberts | Central | 28 |
| Independent Applicant | Grand Falls-Windsor | Central | 41 |
| YMCA of Exploits Valley (YMCA Fogo Island) | Fogo Island | Central | 26 |
| EVCC Early Learning Centre | Botwood | Central | 17 |
| Happy Kids Child Care | Wesleyville | Central | 44 |
| Above and Beyond Childcare Inc. | Shearstown | Central | 33 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – Discovery Collegiate | Bonavista | Central | 50 |
| YMCA of Exploits Valley (YMCA Connections 2) | Grand Falls-Windsor | Central | 56 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – All Hallows | North River | Central | 30 |
| Bright Start Child Care Ltd. | Gander | Central | 20 |
| St. Peter’s Primary – Pre-K | Mount Pearl | Metro | 14 |
| St. Edward’s School – Pre-K | Conception Bay South | Metro | 20 |
| Holy Family Elementary – Pre-K | Paradise | Metro | 20 |
| Mary Queen of Peace Elementary – Pre-K | St. John’s | Metro | 20 |
| Octagon Pond Area School – Pre-K | Paradise | Metro | 20 |
| Goulds Elementary – Pre-K | St. John’s | Metro | 20 |
| Hazelwood Elementary – Pre-K | St. John’s | Metro | 20 |
| St. John Bosco – Pre-K | St. John’s | Metro | 15 |
| Topsail Elementary – Pre-K | Conception Bay South | Metro | 13 |
| Dream With Us Daycare Center Inc. | Portugal Cove-St. Philips | Metro | 94 |
| Independent Applicant | Conception Bay South | Metro | 53 |
| Treehouse Daycare Ltd. | St. John’s | Metro | 118 |
| Independent Applicant | St. John’s | Metro | 156 |
| Little Stars Daycare Inc. | St. John’s | Metro | 80 |
| CPEF Les P’TITS Cerfs-Volants – École Rocher du Nord | St. John’s | Metro | 20 |
| The Fluvarium | St. John’s | Metro | 55 |
| Association for New Canadians | St. John’s | Metro | 32 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – Juniper Ridge | Torbay | Metro | 30 |
| Contract Pending | St. John’s | Metro | 60 |
| Contract Pending | St. John’s | Metro | 62 |
| Contract Pending | Portugal Cove-St. Philips | Metro | 38 |
| Contract Pending | Portugal Cove-St. Philips | Metro | 41 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – MacDonald Drive | St. John’s | Metro | 30 |
| CPEF Les P’TITS Cerfs-Volants – École Des Grands Vents | St. John’s | Metro | 20 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – Austin Street | St. John’s | Metro | 70 |
| YMCA of Northeast Avalon – St. Michael’s Ave | St. John’s | Metro | 70 |
| Total Number of Spaces | 2,206 |
*Total number of spaces created upon project completion may differ.