Excerpts from news release
The early childhood development activities and expenditures: Government of Canada report 2002-2003 provides updated progress reports on activities and expenditures undertaken by the federal government in support of young children and their families since it began implementing the September 2000 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Early Childhood Development (ECD) Agreement.
One important new initiative detailed in the report is the "Federal strategy on early childhood development for first nations and other aboriginal children." The report also includes information on current Government of Canada activities and expenditures on early learning and child care, in accordance with requirements under the new Multilateral framework on early learning and child care (March, 2003).
This year's activities and expenditures report, authored jointly by Human Resources Development Canada, Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, marks the third year of reporting by the Government of Canada on its ECD expenditures and activities.
The report delivers on the commitment made to Canadians by First Ministers under the ECD Agreement and the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care to report regularly to Canadians on how young children are doing and annually on their investments in ECD, early learning, and child care programs and services.
Additionally, under the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, a total of $900 million over five years will be made available by the federal government to support provincial and territorial government investments in early learning and child care. These investments will improve access to affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services across the country. The federal Budget 2003 provides an additional $35 million over five years for early learning and child care programs for First Nations children, primarily those living on reserve.