Early childhood educators and other staff working in regulated child care services in the province can now participate in a medical benefits program that is cost shared by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Early Learning and Child Care Medical Benefits Program will be supported by the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador, with coverage provided by Blue Cross via Dougan Insurance Group. Medical benefits are optional and available to individuals who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, and have worked a minimum of three months at a regulated child care service participating in the Operating Grant Program, including:
- Early childhood educators
- Trainee early childhood educators
- Other staff working in child care services
- Regulated Family Child Care providers
Minister Haggie will be available to media today (Wednesday, October 23) at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the new medical benefits for early childhood educators The availability will take place virtually and media can register by contacting lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca by 12:00 p.m.
Funding will be provided to regulated child care services on the Operating Grant Program to cover 60 per cent of the premium cost to access benefits. The employee will be responsible for the remaining 40 per cent of the cost. Coverage provides medical benefits, including employee assistance programming, and options for dental coverage and family benefits. Regulated child care services that do not participate in the Operating Grant Program can access the medical benefits program but will not receive Provincial Government funding to cover any portion of the costs.
The new medical benefits program for early childhood educators will support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators as the Provincial Government continues to increase the number of early learning and child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. In May of this year, the Provincial Government committed to implementing a medical benefits program by the fall.
This new benefit program is funded through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Through this agreement, the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are working together to improve access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care programs and services.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing high quality, affordable child care that is accessible throughout the province. There are over 10,100 early learning and child care spaces operating at $10-a-day or less in the province, with a further 1,700 spaces in development.
Quotes
“Our government is continuing to support the early learning workforce and enhance the working conditions of this important sector. A high-quality early learning and child care system requires a strong and sustainable workforce. This medical benefits program will provide coverage, insurance, and peace of mind to those individuals who opt in.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Education (Alternate)
“To make $10-a-day child care a reality for families in Newfoundland and Labrador, we need to retain and recruit more early childhood educators. This new program is delivering benefits educators have been asking for and ensures they have access to the support they need and deserve. This is a positive step forward that will have a real impact on our incredible workforce.”
Honourable Jenna Sudds
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“The professionalization of the early learning sector and support for this important workforce is integral to increasing quality early learning and child care in the province. The association is pleased to play a part in ensuring that early childhood educators have access to medical benefits to support their health and well-being.”
Skye Taylor
Association of Early Childhood Educators in Newfoundland and Labrador
Learn more
Provincial Government Commits to Introducing Medical Benefits for Early Childhood Educators
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
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BACKGROUNDER
Operating Grant Program
The Operating Grant Program helps address affordability of child care services for families with young children. Effective January 1, 2023, regulated child care services participating in the Operating Grant Program were supported to lower their rates to $10 per day for infant, toddler, and preschool participants; $4 for afterschool care; and, $5 for before and after school care. The Operating Grant Program is a key component of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. As part of the agreement, the Newfoundland and Labrador government committed to exploring potential enhancements to the program to ensure that regulated operations remain financially viable, and to retain and attract new early childhood educators.
In January 2024 the Provincial Government released a report outlining a review of the Operating Grant Program for child care services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report includes six opportunity areas for improving the Operating Grant Program, including governance; funding and rates; program policies, processes and requirements; accountability; workforce; and, system enablers.
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is increasing access to regulated child care through the creation of approximately 6,000 spaces by 2025-2026, as well as improving affordability, inclusivity, and quality of early learning and child care programming in Newfoundland and Labrador. This Action Plan is made possible by federal investments in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system. These include $306 million for the 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, a one-time investment of nearly $6.5 million in 2021-2022 to support the early childhood workforce, as well as over $34 million for the 2021-2022 to 2024-2025 Early Learning and Child Care Extension Agreement.