Question Period Note: INDIGENOUS EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC)

• Des services d’apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants de grande qualité et culturellement adaptés aux enfants autochtones, guidés par les priorités autochtones, sont un élément essentiel de la réconciliation.
• Le gouvernement s’engage à continuer d’investir dans des services d'apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants de grande qualité et culturellement adaptés, conçus par et avec des partenaires et des communautés autochtones pour répondre aux besoins des familles autochtones, peu importe où elles vivent.
• Nous travaillerons à la réalisation de la vision énoncée dans le Cadre d’apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants autochtones, élaboré conjointement. Nous continuerons à travailler avec nos partenaires autochtones, les provinces et les territoires afin d’établir un système pancanadien d’apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants qui réponde aux besoins des familles autochtones, peu importe où elles vivent.
• Un investissement proposé de 2,5 milliards de dollars au cours des cinq prochaines années dans l’apprentissage et la garde des jeunes enfants autochtones contribuera à faire ce qui suit :
• garantir qu’un plus grand nombre de familles autochtones ont accès à des programmes de grande qualité;
• renforcer la capacité de gouvernance autochtone;
• permettre aux fournisseurs d’offrir des horaires de garde plus flexibles et à temps plein, de constituer, de former et de conserver une main-d’œuvre qualifiée;
• financer des services de garde avant et après l’école pour les enfants des Premières Nations vivant dans les réserves;
• réparer et rénover des centres d’apprentissage et de garde des jeunes enfants existants; et construire et entretenir de nouveaux centres dans d’autres communautés.

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care investments are guided by the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, informed by comprehensive, national engagement and endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the Métis National Council (MNC).
Implementation of the Indigenous early learning and child care funding is administered through the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative, which uses a partnership model to facilitate Indigenous-led decision-making to advance distinctions-based national and regional early learning and child care priorities. Funding allocations are made and endorsed by First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation leadership.
The new funding builds on the annual allocations to three existing federally funded Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care programs: the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative; Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve; and Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities.
Funding Overview
In support of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, the Government committed $1.7 billion over 10 years starting in 2018–19. This is part of the commitment of $7.5 billion over 11 years the Government has made to support and create more high-quality affordable early learning and child care across the country.
In November 2020, the Fall Economic Statement announced key early investments to lay the groundwork for a Canada-wide child care system including the following support for Indigenous early learning and child care including:
o $70 million over 5 years, starting in 2021-22, and $15 million ongoing to sustain the existing federal Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat, and to help build Indigenous governance capacity and support Indigenous participation in the development of a Canada-wide system;
o $75 million in 2021-22 to improve the quality, accessibility and inclusivity of Indigenous child care programs;
o $210 million per year by making previous funding for indigenous early learning and child care permanent at 2027-28 levels, beginning in 2028-29, to sustain the progress made with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to date.
Budget 2021 builds on recent investments in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, to continue the progress towards an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of Indigenous families, wherever they live.
New investments are over and above existing federal funding of approximately $132 million per year through the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative; Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve; and Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities.

COVID-19 Response

In 2020-21, the government announced $120.7 million to help Indigenous early learning and child care facilities safely operate during the pandemic. It will assist Indigenous communities in addressing their most critical needs, including implementing enhanced cleaning protocols, hiring additional staff, and offering training.

• Following national engagement, in September 2018 the Government of Canada, jointly with First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation leadership, released the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework.
• Budget 2017 announced $1.7 billion over 10 years, starting in 2018-2019, to advance the goals of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework and support a range of early learning and child care programs and services, including:
o 463 child care sites in First Nations and Inuit communities;
o 341 Aboriginal Head Start programs on-reserve; and,
o 134 Aboriginal Head Start programs in urban and northern communities;
o Reaching over 35,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation children who participate in Indigenous early learning and child care programming in a full and/or part-time capacity.
• The Fall Economic Statement announced early investments to lay the groundwork for a Canada-wide child care system and sustain the investments in Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care on an ongoing basis.
• Budget 2021 committed to invest an additional $2.5 billion over the next five years in Indigenous early learning and child care including:
o $1.4 billion over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $385 million ongoing, to ensure that more Indigenous families have access to high-quality programming. Guided by Indigenous priorities, this investment will build Indigenous governance capacity and allow providers to offer more flexible and full-time hours of care, build, train and retain a skilled workforce, and create new spaces. This will include new investments in Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities;
o $515 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $112 million ongoing, to support before and after-school care for First Nations children on reserve;
o $264 million over four years, starting in 2022-23, and $24 million ongoing, to repair and renovate existing Indigenous early learning and child care centres, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for children and staff;
o $420 million over three years, starting in 2023-24, and $21 million ongoing, to build and maintain new centres in additional communities. The government will work with Indigenous partners to identify new infrastructure priorities.
• The Government is committed to continue these investments in high-quality, culturally-appropriate early learning and child care, designed by and with Indigenous partners and communities to meet the needs of Indigenous families wherever they live.