Excerpts from the Ontario Children's Secretariat backgrounder:
Project: Premier Mike Harris commissioned the Early Years Study in 1998. The purpose of the study is to learn more about how government, communities and parents can positively affect every aspect of a young child’s life and how we can prepare Ontario’s young people for greater success in school, in their careers and in society.
Findings: The study findings state that a focus on children’s early years is critical to ensure that Ontario enjoys a highly competent and well-educated population capable of participating fully in the new global economy. It confirms that the better the nurturing and learning experience in early childhood, the better the outcomes. Further, the study considers how parents, communities and government can optimize early child development in the context of current neuroscience research.