Premier Pat Binns and Minister Chester Gillan met today with members of the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI and associated stakeholders. The meeting provided an opportunity to review joint progress in the provision of quality child care for Island families and a partnership plan to ensure Prince Edward Island continues its leadership in early childhood development.
"With the election of a new government in Ottawa, I thought it was appropriate that the Minister and I sit down with the Early Childhood Development Association to discuss our next steps in developing the best possible care for our children," said Premier Binns.
The Premier confirmed the Government of Prince Edward Island's continued budget commitment of $7.2 million annually on early childhood development initiatives, including kindergarten and daycare maintenance grants. In December, the province committed to an increase in the child care subsidy rates, an additional $750,000 investment for children and families.
Minister Gillan noted that the current Early Learning and Child Care Agreement signed with the Government of Canada in December would remain in effect until March 31, 2007.
"This extension will give us time to evaluate progress and determine needs for a new agreement with the Government of Canada," said Minister Gillan.
Both the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI acknowledge there are benefits to the new federal government's choice in child care allowance. The $1,200 per child annual subsidy will ensure that an additional $9.6 million comes to the province each year to support care for Island children. Government will continue to work with the sector to ensure a system is in place for these dollars to support quality programming for children in licensed child care centres. Also, the commitment by the new federal government to create new child care spaces may provide the opportunity to enhance support for current spaces, recognizing that PEI is already providing licensed spaces for the majority of preschool age children.
"Our meeting with Premier Binns and Minister Gillan was productive and resulted in their commitment to continue to involve our organization as future discussions with the federal government take place. Prince Edward Island has established itself as a leader in early childhood development, and we share Premier Binns’ desire to continue this momentum," said Sonya Corrigan, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI.