New funding for early learning and child care initiatives in Francophone minority communities

March 7, 2025

On March 5, 2025, Employment and Social Development Canada announced over $60 million in funding for two initiatives that support early learning and child care initiatives in Francophone minority communities. This funding is part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration. A portion of the investment also includes ongoing and permanent funding from the 2018–2023 Action Plan for Official Languages: Investing in Our Future.

The first initiative will be led by the Commission nationale des parents francophones (CNPF) which is receiving $47.7 million in new funding to create a network of parties invested in the early learning and child care sector. The goal is to support cross-sectoral coordination to implement specific initiatives, focused on improving access to quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care for Francophone minority communities across Canada, helping to build Francophone cultural identity, and supporting the French-speaking workforce.

The second initiative will be led by The Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC) which is receiving $16.3 million to expand and continue the development of initial, continuous and specialized training programs for early childhood educators in Francophone minority communities, with the goals of aiming to address challenges facing the sector, strengthening the skills of early childhood educators, and promoting the profession.