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Moving Forward on Early Learning and Child Care

On April 29, 2005, Manitoba signed an agreement-in-principle Moving Forward on Early Learning and Child Care with the Government of Canada. It is the first of its kind in Canada and sets out a long-term vision, principles and goals to develop regulated, early learning and child care for Manitoba children. The provincial government's specific objectives under the agreement in principle complement previous accomplishments and the goals of the five-year plan.

Manitoba's Action Plan - Next Steps demonstrates how federal funds will be invested to meet the goals set out in Manitoba's Five-Year Plan for Child Care and to continue to build Manitoba's non-profit, community based early learning and child care system based on the QUAD principles (quality, universally inclusive, accessible and developmental). Manitoba's Action Plan - Next Steps will be followed by a more detailed implementation plan by December 2005.

Manitoba's Five-Year Plan for Child Care (2002-2007) set a clear direction and ambitious goals to maintain and improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of early learning and child care for Manitoba's children and their families. The plan includes children with disabilities. With significant new provincial investments and financial support from the federal government, most of the major elements of the plan will be completed by March 2007.

A new five-year federal funding commitment to early learning and child care (2005-06 to 2009-10) allows Manitoba to keep building on these achievements. This new federal revenue will not displace existing provincial investments. It will support new improvements and expansion of Manitoba's regulated early learning and child care system with a focus on children under age six.

Manitoba's Action Plan - Key Objectives describes how Manitoba intends to invest new federal funds to meet the targets set out in the five-year plan. It also outlines how the Province will fulfill the objectives of the 2005 Agreement-in-Principle between Manitoba and the Government of Canada.

Find out more in the documents below.