We are actively working with community partners to increase capacity so that all children and families are able to access the early learning and child care services they need while contributing to an inclusive and thriving province.

Families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador now have access to approximately 10,900 early learning and child care spaces at a cost of $10-a-day or less. An additional 2,100 spaces are in development to further increase access to high-quality, accessible, affordable, and inclusive early learning and child care in the province.

Thousands of parents throughout the province are using the Early Learning Gateway, where new features are added regularly. Recent updates include the ability for parents to view their place on a child care service waitlist, as well as the ability for early childhood educators to add themselves to a substitute list that is available to all regulated child care services.

Further actions to support the early learning workforce and increase access to early learning and child care throughout the province include:

• Implementation of a medical benefits program for early childhood educators;
• Provision of a rural and remote allowance for child care centres in eligible regions;
• Wage grid bonuses for early childhood educators and administrators in Labrador, Francophone early childhood educators, and a further bonus solely for administrators;
• Streamlined paid closure days and statutory holidays for child care services on the Operating Grant Program;
• Creation of an Infant Incentive to provide $91 per day, per infant-aged space for child care providers on the Operating Grant Program; and,
• Continued expansion of pre-kindergarten programming, which is currently available at 34 sites throughout the province with a further 24 sites in development.

These initiatives are part of the $306 million invested through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. This agreement is increasing access to regulated child care through the creation of 5,895 spaces by 2025-26, as well as improving affordability, inclusivity and the quality of early learning and child care programming in Newfoundland and Labrador.

All of these actions and initiatives are helping to further improve the overall well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.