Text of the press release:
Manitoba's child-care action plan will provide, for the first time, a $2.7-million capital fund program to assist in the renovation or expansion of licensed child-care centres or to help build new facilities, Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick announced today.
"As we move forward on our vision, an important piece of quality early learning and child care will be investments in appropriate space for children and families," Melnick said. "We are pleased to be able to launch a new capital-funding program to help ensure early-learning environments meet the needs of all children, in spaces that are child and family friendly."
Licensed, non-profit child-care centres will be able to apply to the new capital fund, with the first projects expected to be identified in 2006. The program will address expansion or renovation of sites and will offer assistance for new construction of centres.
The announcement builds on details announced last week of funding for 750 new child-care spaces next year in areas of greatest need. It is anticipated the new capital fund will provide much-needed support to help non-profit community groups with the significant costs associated with expansion or new projects.
The new program will help further improve early-learning and child-care centres by funding improvements and larger-scale expansions and by providing assistance for new building construction. Schools are often excellent sites for early-learning and child-care centres and the new program makes improvements in surplus school space a high priority.
On Nov. 2, an investment of at least $5.75 million in additional, annual funding for up to 3,168 licensed spaces was announced including:
- 1,650 spaces at 91 locations in Winnipeg - $3.3 million;
- 699 spaces at 54 sites in Brandon and rural Manitoba, - $1.6 million;
- 68 spaces at five locations in the North - $159,233; and
- at least 750 remaining spaces for areas with the high need - approximately $712,000 with exact locations to be determined next year.
On April 29, Manitoba and Canada signed an agreement called Moving Forward on Early Learning and Child Care, the first of its kind in Canada. The total budget for Manitoba's Child Care program, including the Children with Disabilities Program, is now $103 million.
In total, over the next five years, Manitoba's share of the federal government's support is estimated to be $176 million. Manitoba is committed to spending all new federal funds on child care.
In addition to collaborating with the federal government, Manitoba will continue to work with the child-care community and parents and will consult with Manitobans in building a high-quality early-learning and child-care system that is available to all families who need it.