Statement from Ministers on the five-year extension of Canada-Yukon Early Learning and Child Care Agreements

March 11, 2025

Minister of Education for the Government of Yukon Jeanie McLean:

“On February 24, 2025, the Government of Yukon, in partnership with the Government of Canada, signed a five-year extension agreement for the Canada-Yukon Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which will now run through March 31, 2031. This agreement will provide the Yukon with approximately $74 million, including a three per cent annual funding increase for four years starting in 2027–28. This funding is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the early learning and child care system in the territory and supports the final year of the Infrastructure Fund (2026–27), which is critical for further strengthening child care services.

“This extension builds on the universal child care system that our government introduced in April 2021, part of a $25 million annual investment in our early learning and child care system to provide access to high-quality, inclusive and affordable licensed early learning and child care to all Yukon families. It also builds on the Canada-Yukon Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, signed in July 2024 with the Government of Canada, which is providing nearly $42 million over five years to support the growth of the Yukon’s child care system and the professional development of early childhood educators and to ensure that all families have access to an average of $10 a day out-of-pocket parent fees for full-time regulated early learning and child care spaces for children under age six.

“I am confident that the agreement signed this February will further enhance access to affordable, high-quality child care across the territory. Reflecting on the progress made over the past four years, we have been able to:

• provide Yukoners with an average of $10-a-day child care for all regulated child care spaces;
• support and grow our workforce of early childhood educators by offering professional development opportunities and one of the highest wages in Canada – just over $30 an hour for fully qualified educators;
• collaborate with First Nations across the Yukon to ensure families have access to affordable and high-quality care that reflects Yukon First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being;
• create over 588 new child care spaces;
• increase funding for program operators to provide comprehensive insurance benefits to their employees; and
• launch an early learning and child care infrastructure fund aimed at increasing inclusion in child care for underserved communities.

“We committed to a universal child care system that is inclusive of children with differing abilities and children needing enhanced or individual supports and that ensures that all families have equitable access to high-quality, affordable care. With continued support from the Government of Canada, we remain focused on enhancing early learning and child care for the benefit of families, educators, program operators and all Yukoners.”

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development for the Government of Canada Jenna Sudds:

“We didn’t come this far just to come this far. We’re going to keep investing and building on our progress and ensuring that $10-a-day child care remains a reality for families across Yukon. Across Canada, investments in ELCC are reducing waitlists, creating more spots, supporting early childhood educators and ensuring every child a great start in life.”

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Geneviève Lemaire
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
genevieve.lemaire@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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