News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

December 3, 2019

Manitoba Creates New Early Learning Consultation Table to Increase Options for Families



A new consultation table has been created to inform the Manitoba government on issues related to early learning and child care to ensure that Manitoba families are provided with more child-care options, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.

“Our government recognizes the many valuable contributions that early childhood educators make in the lives of children and families,” said Stefanson.  “We are committed to accessible, affordable and quality early child care that meets the diverse needs of Manitobans.  This consultation table will help ensure that we are providing families with more options for child care in our communities.”

Members of the consultation table have been appointed by the minister to represent the diverse early learning and child-care sector in Manitoba.  They are:
•    Bonnie Ash, executive director, Morrow Avenue Child Care Centre Inc.;
•    Dominique Arbez, professor, Université de Saint-Boniface;
•    Lori Carpenter, director, Portage Ukrainian Nursery School;
•    Cindy Curry, family group child-care provider, Children, Naturally Early Learning and Child Care;
•    Desiree Mayert, director and owner, the Carpenter’s Montessori School;
•    Caryn LaFleche, general manager, YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg Inc.;
•    Dana Cyrenne, director, Thompson Children’s World Inc.;
•    Candace Saltel, director, Assiniboine Early Learning Centre Inc.;
•    Leanne Charles, board treasurer and parent, Central Park Child Care Inc.;
•    Lani Zastre, parent and founding member, PACE Winnipeg;
•    Kisa MacIsaac, parent and certified early childhood educator; and
•    Jodie Kehl, executive director, Manitoba Child Care Association.
 
“The Manitoba Child Care Association is appreciative and supportive of the consultation table,” said Jodie Kehl, executive director, Manitoba Child Care Association.  “This is a timely opportunity for early learning and child-care stakeholders to partner with the Manitoba government to better support children and families and the workforce.  The foundation of child care relies on affordability, accessibility and quality which is directly associated with the early childhood educators working in the programs.” 

The governments of Canada and Manitoba announced the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreement in 2018.  The federal government has committed to continue funding ELCC initiatives until 2027-28 through a renewed agreement and a jointly developed Manitoba action plan.  The action plan calls for the creation of this consultation table to provide information and feedback to the provincial minister on the progress of initiatives funded under the bilateral agreement.  The consultation table may also consult with the broader ELCC sector, parents and other Manitobans as needed to support its work.

The consultation table will hold its first meeting this evening.  It will be co-chaired by one of the appointed members and a representative from the department. 

The minister also noted that KPMG has been selected to review Manitoba’s early learning and child-care program.  Their recommendations will focus on modernizing the child-care sector to ensure it remains sustainable and provides Manitoba families with more child-care options.  The competitive request for proposals for this work was issued in June.  A report is expected to be submitted to government in mid-2020, Stefanson noted.

For more information about early learning and child care in Manitoba, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare.

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