EXCERPTS
The federal and New Brunswick governments have signed an agreement that will see a combined $71 million invested in early learning and child-care services for preschool-aged children in the province over the next three years.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Brian Gallant made the announcement at the Wee College child-care centre in Moncton on Wednesday.
The money will improve "quality, accessibility and affordability of service," said Trudeau.
It will give children in the province a "head start in life and the tools they need for future success," he said.
Under the bilateral agreement, 300 current child-care centres will be turned into designated early learning centres, which will provide more quality spaces, have lower fee structures, and implement inclusion policies and guidelines for francophone minority communities, according to the governments.
A total of 200 new infant and toddler spaces will also be created.
The federal government is contributing nearly $30 million to the initiative, while the province's share is $41 million.
"Education and early childhood learning are some of the best investments we can make for the future prosperity of our economy," said Gallant.
"Providing more affordable, accessible and high-quality child care will strengthen families, the middle class and the New Brunswick workforce of tomorrow."
Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who was appointed the new federal health minister earlier this week, attended the announcement, along with several other Liberal MPs and MLAs.
The announcement comes one day after the federal and P.E.I. governments announced Ottawa will invest $10.5 million in the Island's early childhood education system over the next three years.
The federal government has committed to spending $7.5 billion over the next 11 years to create more child-care spaces in Canada.