[Canada] Expanded measures to help childcare providers in N.L.

In Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has announced the expansion of funding for childcare providers offering spaces for infants, together with other short-term implementations to support the sector, CBC reports.

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell stated that the province will fund an additional $30 a day per space for infant care spaces offered by providers participating in the province's operating grant programme. It funds regulated child-care centres and some day homes in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The need for more infant spaces was reportedly one of four main items that came from a review of the operating grant. Ms Howell said it was one of the areas of highest demand. With the increase, the province is now funding $101 per infant per day.

Two additional items Ms Howell said could be addressed in the short term are the continuation of two paid professional development leave days for childcare providers and expanding the number of statutory holidays a provider can receive funding for to 12.

Five additional closure days are also being funded. Providers can use these at their discretion.

Ms Howell announced changes to the funding structure of the operating grant programme too and said it will put providers on a more level playing field.

"Sometimes a centre had an additional inclusion worker or inclusion space and they were able to offer that service, so they were often ranked on a higher tier," Ms Howell said on April 17.

"But It's our expectation now that all of our centres will be providing this inclusion space. So everybody will be ranked on the higher tier and receive the funding based on that model."

At present, there are 2,206 early childhood learning and child-care spaces in development with various timelines to opening, a news release said. More than 1,500 $10-a-day spaces have reportedly been created since January 2023.

The announcement came three weeks after a report from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour which said that 42 per cent of the province's early childhood educators are considering looking for a new job due to low wages and a lack of benefits.

The report revealed that educators didn't think they were being heard by government and respondents also expressed a desire that ECEs become part of the province's public-sector pension plan.

Ms Howell said conversations about pensions and benefits are ongoing.

"That's part of our conversation as we build a workforce and recognize the value that they bring. I think we've moved the dial, but there's still much work to be done," the minister said.

Some of the province’s child-care providers are for-profit and some aren't. Some are government-operated, while others are private.

"It gets a bit technical, so we wanted to make sure that we actually know what we're going forward with. And when we apply it to one, it will apply to everybody."

Source: CBC

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has announced the expansion of funding for childcare providers offering spaces for infants, together with other short-term implementations to support the sector, CBC reports.

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell stated that the province will fund an additional $30 a day per space for infant care spaces offered by providers participating in the province's operating grant programme. It funds regulated child-care centres and some day homes in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The need for more infant spaces was reportedly one of four main items that came from a review of the operating grant. Ms Howell said it was one of the areas of highest demand. With the increase, the province is now funding $101 per infant per day.

Two additional items Ms Howell said could be addressed in the short term are the continuation of two paid professional development leave days for childcare providers and expanding the number of statutory holidays a provider can receive funding for to 12.

Five additional closure days are also being funded. Providers can use these at their discretion.

Ms Howell announced changes to the funding structure of the operating grant programme too and said it will put providers on a more level playing field.

"Sometimes a centre had an additional inclusion worker or inclusion space and they were able to offer that service, so they were often ranked on a higher tier," Ms Howell said on April 17.

"But It's our expectation now that all of our centres will be providing this inclusion space. So everybody will be ranked on the higher tier and receive the funding based on that model."

At present, there are 2,206 early childhood learning and child-care spaces in development with various timelines to opening, a news release said. More than 1,500 $10-a-day spaces have reportedly been created since January 2023.

The announcement came three weeks after a report from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour which said that 42 per cent of the province's early childhood educators are considering looking for a new job due to low wages and a lack of benefits.

The report revealed that educators didn't think they were being heard by government and respondents also expressed a desire that ECEs become part of the province's public-sector pension plan.

Ms Howell said conversations about pensions and benefits are ongoing.

"That's part of our conversation as we build a workforce and recognize the value that they bring. I think we've moved the dial, but there's still much work to be done," the minister said.

Some of the province’s child-care providers are for-profit and some aren't. Some are government-operated, while others are private.

"It gets a bit technical, so we wanted to make sure that we actually know what we're going forward with. And when we apply it to one, it will apply to everybody."

Source: CBC

(Quotes via original reporting)