Giving children in Canada the best possible start in life is a top priority. That is why the governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $60 million in grants to early learning and child care providers for facility infrastructure improvements, curriculum development, and workforce retention.
Today, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, Dan Vandal, on behalf of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, joined Manitoba's Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning, Wayne Ewasko, to announce $45.9 million in quality enhancement grants under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (ELCC). The Government of Manitoba is contributing an additional $14 million in provincial funding to ensure equitable support is available for school-age programming for children aged seven to 12.
The grants support goals outlined in Manitoba's Action Plan under its Canada-wide ELCC Agreement, and include three streams:
- The Quality Early Learning and Environments Grant will offer $875 per licensed non-profit child care centre and home-based provider space to help improve aging infrastructure, equipment and materials.
- The Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion Grant will offer $500 per licensed non-profit child care centre and home-based provider space to help ensure children of all backgrounds and abilities feel a sense of belonging and have the ability to participate in the program through enriched curricula, space adaptations, and staff development opportunities.
- The Innovative Recruitment and Retention Grant will offer $200 per licensed non-profit child-care centre to help implement creative and innovative strategies to recruit, retain, and support a high-quality workforce. This includes a Retirement Enhancement and Retention Benefit that will offer a one-time Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) top-up of up to $500 per home-based child care license holder who contributed to an RRSP in 2022 to recognize home-based providers' dedication to the child care sector.
Building a Canada-wide early learning and child care system that works for families in every region of the country is a key part of the Government of Canada's plan to make life more affordable for families, while also creating good jobs and growing the economy.
