NWT releases reports on ELCC expansion: What We Heard Report and Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework
Child Care Now congratulates the Northwest Territories on its release of two reports – the final What We Heard report and the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework.
These reports reflect the Territories’ renewed commitment to continue to expand and strengthen their early learning and child care system in line with their Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Action Plan.
What We Heard Report
The What We Heard Report is informed by engagement sessions with 25 participants from Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, not-for-profit licensed centre-based early learning and child care facility operators, the Northwest Territories Early Childhood Association, education bodies, and the Standing Committee on Social Development.
The report highlights the opportunities and challenges for ELCC expansion approaches including the geographical, environmental, financial and cultural considerations in the Northwest Territories.
The findings and feedback from the engagement sessions informed aspects of the updated Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework.
Updated Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework
Informed by input from the engagement sessions, the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework was developed to ensure the best use of both the federal Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund and the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund.
The new framework is “the roadmap for expanding access to licensed early learning and child care spaces.” It proposes three approaches for creating and funding new early learning and child care spaces, through major and minor capital funding:
- The capital contributions approach is the Government of the Northwest Territories’ current method for creating new child care spaces, which is currently funded through the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund. Recipients of the funding collaborate directly with architects and contractors to design and construct a facility on their own land.
- In the modular or ready-to-move approach, modular facilities are constructed off-site in a factory setting, then transported and assembled on a permanent foundation on land owned by the funding recipient.
- The asset ownership approach would involve using existing assets such as schools, constructing new facilities, or repurposing and renovating spaces for early learning and child care.
Child Care Now applauds the territorial government for its commitment of $1 million per year over the next four years in territorial funds, in addition to the $10.6 million from federal Infrastructure Funds.
Applications for the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund are accepted on a rolling basis.