Education and Early Childhood Development
April 05, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development:

Minister Kirby Highlights Continued Support for Early Childhood Development Throughout Province

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reiterate our government’s continued commitment to working with the early childhood development sector for the benefit of children and families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Last week we were pleased to distribute $6.5 million in annual funding for family resource centres from St. John’s to the Torngat Mountains. We have approximately 150 centres that offer a variety of community-based activities and resources for early childhood development and parenting support.

The centres provide a friendly and informal setting where families can access programs and resources specifically tailored to meet their needs, including parent education, interactive parent and child programs, and healthy baby clubs.

Our government is dedicated to providing the necessary supports to our children and the early childhood educators who make such an impact on their lives. As announced in the Throne Speech, Budget 2017 will include measures to support early childhood educators and families.

Mr. Speaker, as a government we recognize that family resource centres, early learning and child care play vital roles in the healthy development of children and the well-being of families throughout our province.

Thank you.

2017 04 05                              2:35 p.m.