Apr
20

Historic Federal Budget 2021

Over 50 years ago, the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, appealed to the federal government to begin working with provinces and territories to establish a national day care plan. On April 19, 2021, history was made when Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the federal budget which will lay the beginning steps of a universal, accessible, affordable, quality early learning and child care system across Canada.

Some of the notable highlights of budget 2021:

  • Increase in federal funding for early learning and child care to $4.1 billion in 2021-22; subsequently going up it reaches $9.2 billion annually by 2025-26.
  • $30 billion over the next 5 years and $8.3 billion ongoing for Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care
  • A 50% reduction in average (preschool) child care fees (for regulated early learning and child care) in all provinces outside of Quebec by the end of 2022
  • An average of $10 day by 2025-26 for all regulated child care spaces in Canada
  • Meaningful progress in improving and expanding before and after school child care
  • Supporting Accessible Child Care
  • Addressing the Needs of Indigenous Families and Communities

In addition, the next five years, will include “A growing, qualified workforce – with provincial and territorial partners, the government will work to ensure that early childhood educators are at heart of the system, by valuing their work and providing them with the training and development opportunities needed to support their growth and the growth of a quality system.”

There is much work to be done as we continue to move forward to building a “system”. Systems are built when investments are made and political leadership is provided. Just like education or health care, systems rely on supply side funding. Budget 2021 is finally doing this. This will allow access for families, for women to quality child care and is essential to Canada’s social and economic recovery.

Categories: News

Posted by Jodie Kehl at 9:19 am