Pour diffusion immédiate     numéro 05-64
March 16, 2005

WHITEHORSE - In recognition of the Government of Canada’s announcement of new child care funding and the need to integrate the new money into the Yukon’s child care contributions, Health and Social Services Minister Peter Jenkins will reconvene the Child Care Working Group to provide advice on where to target the new federal funding.

YYukon now has the second-highest funded child care in the country, currently $5.5 million per year," Jenkins said. "We are very proud that the Yukon government contribution has increased by 30 per cent over the last two years."

"We must provide the level of quality care that Yukon parents demand. Our increased investment has targeted wages and operating costs. As with any contribution of taxpayer dollars we also have accountability requirements."

"We appreciate the recommendations made by the Child Care Working Group established in 2003. This is why we are asking them to provide recommendations regarding the allocation of the new federal dollars. The group will also have an opportunity to discuss the government's accountability requirements for operators," Jenkins added.

The Yukon does not know exactly how much it will be receiving from the federal government. Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Prince Edward Island have proposed a special agreement for small jurisdictions that would include a base amount plus per capita. Discussions with the federal government about this issue are underway.

Day homes and child care centres receive between $9,000 and $122,000 in Direct Operating Grant money annually from the government. Combined with funding for subsidy, they can receive between $12,000 and $300,000 in government funding annually.

Currently, $5.5 million per year is directed to child care through the direct operating grants to child care providers, subsidies for parents and other programs including supports for special needs children.

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Backgrounder

Since 2002, the Yukon government has made a number of changes to ensure that all Yukoners have access to quality, affordable child care services.

April 2003

• The direct operating grant was increased by $230,000 to allow for increases to staff wages and operational costs on a one time basis.

June 2003

• The minister appointed a Child Care Working Group, comprised of numerous child care stakeholders, to develop recommendations for a four year plan for child care.

October 2003

• Government provided an additional $230,000 one-time only funding to the direct operating grant to provide funding for child care providers till the end of the 2003/04 fiscal year.

December 2003

• The working group submitted its recommendations.

In 2004, the following changes were announced.

• Operating grants increased by $675,000 in 2004/05 to assist child care operators - a 30% increase targeted to wages and operating costs – with a 3% and 5% increase in subsequent years
• $10,000 increase to the Supported Child Care budget for 2004/05, with an additional $5,000 to be added in each of the next two fiscal years
• $45,000 budget in each of the next two years to develop a public education campaign, host an annual stakeholder meeting, and develop and maintain a web page.

A review of the child care regulations is in early planning stages