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Early childhood care and education in Newfoundland and Labrador
Planning and development Provincial context Legislation History Related services Planning and development Standards and regulation Space statistics Provincial context Child care services Provincial official responsible for child care Legislation Recent developments History Standards and regulation Children with special needs Child care services Key provincial organization Recent developments Municipal role Administration Funding Standards and regulation Aboriginal child care Children with special needs
History NF 


1900 A child care facility was established by the Presentation Sisters in Renews.

1968 The Welfare Institutions Licensing Act was enacted, authorizing licensing of child care facilities for children 2 years of age and older and prohibiting child care facilities for children under 2 years of age.

1975 The Day Care and Homemaker Services Act was enacted, allowing public funds to be used for fee subsidies, and in 1976, regulations were implemented.

1982 New Regulations were drafted to replace those of 1976.

1989 The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador was established.

1990 Day Care and Homemaker Services Act (1975) was consolidated to become the Day Care and Homemaker Services Act RSN 1990 C.D. -2.

1993 In May, both the one-time start-up and the annual equipment grants were suspended due to budget reductions. A cap was placed on the expansion of the number of fee subsidies.

1994 The position of Director of Day Care and the Day Care Division was eliminated and the day care program was assigned to the Director of Family and Rehabilitative Services and a Policy Specialist.

1996 Report of the Select Committee on Children's Interests (provincial government task force report) recommended that investment be made in early childhood education. Until 1996, Newfoundland had 2 year early childhood training programs at four college locations and a 1 year program run by the Community Services Council. The provincial government closed one of these locations and reduced enrollment at a second program. The program run by the Community Services Council closed in 1996.At the request of the Owners' and Operators' Association, the provincial government issued a directive to employer-supported centres to cease to enroll children whose parents did not work at that location. The rationale was that in-kind funding (for occupancy costs) interfered with competition in the for profit sector's marketplace.

 

Recent developments NF
In 1997, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador appointed a Social Policy Advisory Committee, which traveled across the province holding hearings regarding social programs and services. A final report, People, Partners and Prosperity: A Social Strategic Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador was released in 1998 . Early childhood education and early intervention were highlighted as important services needing further development.

In 1998, the government announced that it would spend $10.15 million annually from the National Child Benefit Program in new programs and services. Of this total, $4.6 million is for the improvement and expansion of regulated child care. This includes new child care subsidies, introduction of regulated family day care, introduction of licensed infant care, certification of child care staff, and program funds to assist with the development of child care services, such as the hiring of regional early childhood education consultants. An additional $1.15 million will be spent on family resource centre sites.

An Early Childhood Services Advisory Committee, representing stakeholders in the community, worked with government officials on the proposed Child Care Services Act. The new Act and Regulations will enable the development of the planned new programs and services. They were proclaimed on June 1, 1999. Responsibility for child care has moved to the Department of Health and Community Services from Social Services.

 

  
Key provincial child care organizations NF

Association of Early Childhood Educators of
Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 21462
St. John's, Newfoundland A1A 4J7
Telephone & facsimile: (709) 579-0217

Family Home Child Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
c/o Marie O'Keefe
10 Diefenbaker Street
St John's, Newfoundland A1A 2M1
Telephone: (709) 753-2795

 
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 INTRODUCTION | FEDERAL ROLE  | THE BIG PICTURE | THE LONG VIEW  | NOTES AND REFERENCES
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