December 8, 1998
(Health and Community Services)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly on her behalf by Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment:

New funding for child care services

Today I am very pleased to inform Honourable Members that it is another red-letter day for the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, this government is providing three funding allocations to enhance services for children, as part of the implementation of the National Child Benefit Reinvestment Program.

We are providing $250,000 to licensed child care centres to assist with the purchase of supplies and equipment. Government recognizes that to promote healthy child development, licensed child care centres must provide programs to meet the child's needs for a stimulating environment. For many children, attending a high quality child care centre will result in them having greater success in school, of successfully entering the work force as adults, and of being contributing members of their communities. To provide a high quality program child care centre operators must give children access to a wealth of play materials for the children to use in their explorations and learnings and over-all development.

Early childhood from birth to age six is the critical period for brain development. Current Canadian research has determined that this period is the key factor which affects the child's ability to reach his or her potential in school and in adulthood. For this goal to be met, quality, age appropriate equipment, in sufficient variety and quantity is a necessary element. Such equipment for school-age children is no less important in the programs offered to meet the particular developmental needs of this age group.

To support operators of child care centres in the provision of quality programming for children, government is providing these supply and equipment grants to help offset the costs of the materials required to equip playrooms to meet the developmental needs of children.

Today, we are providing a funding allocation of $100,000 to off-set the costs of up-grading licensed group child care centres to meet the requirements of new child care legislation. This will be provided on a one-time basis and will allow all licensed child care centres to better position themselves to serve our children.

Today we are also providing $200,000 for the transportation of children to and from child care centres. Child care centres provide necessary services to low income families who require child care in order to maintain employment, enter the work force or take advantage of educational opportunities. Child care centres also provide experiences that foster healthy child development. To be effective, these services must be accessible as well as affordable.

Through increasing the funding for tranportation available to low income families, government increases the availablility of child care services and removes barriers to those who wish to enter the work force or take advantage of educational opportunities.

This government continues to demonstrate its commitment to children and families. Today, we are allocating more than half a million dollars to improve services for our children. We have set a course through our Strategic Social Plan and together, through partnerships in the community, we are moving in a direction which will ensure healthy, happy, and productive lives for new generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, our children.

1998 12 08 2:30 p.m.