The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced $440,000 in funding for the Early Childhood Development Association in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Premier Ball was joined at the announcement by the Honourable Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville. The Early Childhood Development Association has now been approved for over $880,000 as part of the Child Care Capacity Initiative through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. This includes funding of $441,062 for a 58-space child care centre for toddler and preschool children and the $440,000 announced today to support the construction of the new Pumpkin House child care centre with a total capacity of 88 affordable spaces for both child care and afterschool programs in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The new child care centre, scheduled to open spring 2019, will mean greater capacity and be fully accessible. Upon project completion, the Early Childhood Development Association’s total potential licensed child care program capacity will be 118 spaces, making them one of the largest licensed program providers in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has begun the implementation of recommendations of the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes that include:

• Expansion of the Operating Grants Program to increase access to affordable, high quality early learning and child-care programs;
• Development of financial incentives and opportunities for early childhood educators; and
• Establishment of stronger linkages among the department divisions, where there is a connection between early years and the K-12 education system.

This initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca. Quotes “We are pleased to again deliver on our mandate for increasing access to affordable, quality child care in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a government, we are committed to providing the best quality education system for our children and that includes supporting opportunities to foster early learning and child development at a very early age through regulated child care services across the province.” Honourable Dwight Ball Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador “As a government, we recognize that child care plays a vital role in the healthy development of children and the well-being of families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. We remain committed to creating healthier communities as part of the Way Forward.” Honourable Al Hawkins Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development “I am pleased to be part of this child care announcement today. The contributions by the Provincial Government will provide more access to affordable, high quality child care services for the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.” Honourable Perry Trimper MHA for Lake Melville “On behalf of the Early Childhood Development Association’s (ECDA) board and parents, I would like to express our appreciation to Premier Ball and the Department of Early Education and Childhood Development for their support of ECDA’s new child care centre under the Child Care Capacity Initiative. The need for child care in our community is real and immediate; ECDA’s child care programs are currently at full capacity with an extensive waitlist. The contribution by the Provincial Government, along with our community and corporate partners, will support the current construction of our new community child care centre with a total capacity of 88 spaces for both our daycare and afterschool programs.” Colin O’Brien Vice President, Early Childhood Development Association

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Learn more Department of Education and Early Childhood Development “Now is the Time”: Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes Report Child Care Strategy: Caring for Our Future Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL  and @EDU_GovNL Media contacts Jason Card Office of the Premier 709-729-3558 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca Debbie Marnell Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-1906, 689-0948 debiemarnell@gov.nl.ca Bonnie Learning Constituency Assistant to Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville 709-896-7975 bonnielearning@gov.nl.ca Colin O’Brien Early Childhood Development Association 709-896-1833 colin.obrien@canada.ca