“I am pleased to be able to put money into the hands of hardworking early childhood workers and centres,” says Minister of Social Services and Seniors Chester Gillan. “This initial investment will recognize the important contribution made by early childhood educators,” says Minister Gillan. “The remainder of the investment will be injected into the industry in 2006 where it will continue to fund enhancements to the early learning sector.”

In November Minister Gillan pledged to have money flowing to the sector before the end of 2005. According to the investment plan, $800,000 will be invested in certified educators and special needs assistants through Recruitment and Retention Grants, and $700,000 in direct grants to licenced day cares for resources and administration and for significant improvements to increase the number of infant spaces in centres.

“I am very pleased that Minister Gillan saw the need for immediate action and kept his promise to flow funding to the sector so quickly. Government and sector representatives have been able to work cooperatively and effectively to create a plan that realizes enhanced child care in a very short time frame,” says Sonya Corrigan of the Early Childhood Development Association. “The investment plan will increase direct funding to centre operators for resources and for infant spaces, and increase the capacity of child care centres to include children with unique needs.”

“Four critical areas have been specifically targeted for funding,” says Sarah Henry Gallant, Healthy Child Development Coordinator with the PEI Department of Social Services and Seniors. “These areas are Parents, Educators, Programs and Accountability Systems.” Henry Gallant and her staff have been working diligently to consult with early childhood centres and ensure that the centres are aware of their one-time grant application process.

In addition to the direct grants for centres and educators, further funding supports increases to the Child Care Subsidy Program and accountability through the development of a research and reporting framework.

Collaboration between government and community has been, and will continue to be, critical in the continuing implementation of improved child care programming on PEI, according to both government and community child care officials.

The five-year federal funding commitment to early learning and child care (2005-06 to 2009-10) will not displace existing provincial investments; rather, it will support new improvements and the expansion of Prince Edward Island’s regulated early learning and child care system with a focus on children under age six.