New money to support early learning and child care in the Yukon was announced this morning by Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Joining Hussen for his announcement on Zoom was Yukon Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost and Yukon MP Larry Bagnell.

“We want to make sure children have the best possible start in life,” Hussen said, noting families have been facing the additional challenges brought on by COVID-19.

“We know this pandemic has had an impact on early child care,” he said.

“We have known even before families need access to safe, high-quality child care.

“For families, this is a necessity. They need to have access to more affordable, quality child care.”

Hussen said another $2.4 million will be provided to the Yukon to support early learning and child care.

The funding is in addition to the $3 million the federal government provided recently for child care as part of the safe re-start money Ottawa gave to the Yukon.

The federal government entered into an arrangement with the territories and provinces in 2017 to provide $1.2 billion over three years to support early learning and child care.

The money announced this morning is coming from an additional $400 million being provided through new agreements with the territories and provinces.

There are several aspects of child care the Yukon has been focusing in the last three years, including professional development, health and safety needs in licensed child care centres and piloting a rural child care strategy.

“It is a pleasure today to celebrate the extension of a partnership between the Government of Canada and Government of Yukon to improve the outcomes of Yukon children and families,” said Frost. “Our 2017-2020 agreement is renewed until 2021.

“This extension reaffirms our government’s commitment to support access to quality early learning and child care across the territory.”

Frost said they’ll work to ensure the money is shared fairly and equitably among child care services, whether they’re being provided by private daycares, non-profit organizations or First Nations.

The minister also acknowledged what she described as the great work of child care educators and operators who have been providing quality care while keeping the children and themselves safe during the pandemic.

“There is a clear link between a solid foundation in the early years and a child’s long-term development and success,” said Frost. “It’s important to get the early years right for children and to help make life easier for their family.

“That solid foundation is provided by a child, family, community and early childhood educators.”

She said affordable and accessible child care is not only important for the development of children, but it also enhances women’s economic equality and their ability to work and contribute to the territory’s economy while reducing proverty.

The Yukon will continue to expand the grandparents and teen parent grant programs to support extended families who are taking care of young children, said Frost.

The government, she said, will continue to explore options for a universal child care system and early kindergarten program for four-year-old children in the communities, as was announced in July.

Frost said she is looking forward to working alongside Education Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee in upcoming negotiations with Hussen to establish a new multi-year funding arrangement to support early learning and child care.

“We believe that all Yukon children deserve a real and fair chance to succeed, and that committing to a new multi-year bilateral agreement, in the next round of negotiations, is a tangible way towards realizing this belief,” she said.

“I see an opportunity to include discussion on universal access to affordable child care.”