Protecting and Valuing Our Children

Our children represent our most precious resource and are the future leaders of this province. Government and society as a whole have a responsibility to protect and nurture our children and provide for them every opportunity to be healthy, safe, educated and fulfilled.

"The health and well-being of our youngest citizens is a good predictor of the quality of later life," said Premier Danny Williams. "Good nutrition, child care, early childhood education and supports for families will assist our children to yield life-long health benefits. We must provide for our children every possible advantage and opportunity within our means, to ensure for a bright, happy and healthy future. An investment in our children represents one of the most important investments we will ever make as a province. We outlined in our Throne Speech our goal of reducing child poverty to the lowest levels in the country, and though it is a very ambitious goal we must strive to achieve it in the coming years. The health and happiness of our children is an integral part of the future success of our province and their needs must be given due attention by a responsible government."

The following highlight investments made in Budget 2004 for initiatives related to our province�s children:

Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Education (Education)
Government recognizes the importance for pre-school children to have a good start in life and a solid foundation for their school experience. Government will create a Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Learning to co-ordinate comprehensive programs across all government departments and agencies that focus on the learning needs of children and their families.

School busing (Education)
Government is committed to ensuring the province�s school buses are safe and well maintained. Budget 2004 provides for an increase of $2.9 million in funding for school busing for a total of $34.2 million allocated for school busing which will enable the Department of Education to finance the acquisition of 19 new school buses for this coming September and continue with defensive driver training and promote school bus safety awareness.

Healthy Children - Healthy Schools (Health and Community Services/Education)
The Department of Health and Community Services, in partnership with the Department of Education, will invest $250,000 in support of the Healthy Children-Healthy Schools Initiative. The program will focus on physical activity, healthy eating and mental health in the development of guidelines and resources to promote healthy living and support curriculum and services in our schools.

Child care services (Health and Community Services)
Government will allocate $1.6 million of the federal government�s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) funding to improve access to regulated early learning and child care programs and enhance child care services for low-income families.

Protecting children (Health and Community Services)
Government also recognizes that a more responsive child protection system has resulted in significant increases in the number of reported cases in which children need protection. Budget 2004 will provide an additional $500,000 annual allocation to create new social work positions in Labrador to enhance child protection services in aboriginal communities. The St. John�s region has received one-time funding of $400,000 to address current pressures.

Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
$250,000 is allocated for indexing the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (NLCB) to the Consumer Price Index, beginning July 2004. The NLCB assists low-income families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. As well, $230,000 is allocated to increase the 1^st child rate of the NLCB. (This initiative is the result of successful partnerships with both the federal government and community agencies.)

Mother-Baby Nutrition Supplement (Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
Government will allocate $108,000 to introduce a one-time benefit of $90 for pregnant women eligible for the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement (MBNS) to be provided at the time of the birth of their children. The MBNS assists with the additional costs of maintaining a healthy diet during the pre- and post-natal periods. (This initiative is the result of successful partnerships between the province and community agencies.)

Kids Eat Smart (Human Resources, Labour and Employment)
Government will maintain a $500,000 grant for the Kids Eat Smart Foundation, an organization that has helped establish 143 breakfast, lunch and snack programs in 100 communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. (This initiative is the result of successful partnerships between the province and community agencies.)

Media contact:
          Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier (709) 729-3960
          Carolyn Chaplin, Health and Community Services (709) 729-1377
          Jacquelyn Howard, Human Resources, Labour and Employment (709) 729-4062
          Lynn Salter, Education (709) 729-0048

2004 03 30                                    2:15 p.m.