CELEBRATING EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE MONTH

Children, parents and early childhood educators gathered in front of the Legislature today to celebrate Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Month. Today's event, organized by the Regina ELCC Month Committee, officially wrapped up Saskatchewan's first annual Early Learning and Child Care Month, which was held throughout May.

"Early Learning and Child Care Month provides us with an opportunity to recognize the important role early childhood educators play in ensuring that our children receive the best start possible in life," Learning Minister Deb Higgins said. "Early childhood educators work alongside families to give children quality early learning and child care experiences that benefit the child, the family and the community."

"Early Learning and Child Care Month allows us, as early childhood educators, to showcase the work that we do throughout the year," Regina ELCC Month Committee chair Nora Doherty said. "Early childhood education is so much more than providing child care. Early childhood educators provide quality programming that promotes early childhood development."

The Government of Saskatchewan and early learning and child care organizations remain committed to moving forward with an early learning and child care system in Saskatchewan, despite the announcement by the Federal Government that they will phase out the Agreement-in-Principle, signed last April.

"Saskatchewan still needs a system of early learning and child care, like the one outlined in the Agreement-in-Principle," Higgins said. "The provincial government will continue to bring this topic forward in discussions with the federal government. I did exactly that this past Monday with my counterparts at the federal, provincial, territorial meeting in Ottawa and our intent has not changed. Our government wants to move forward with the made-in-Saskatchewan plan for a blended approach to early learning and child care."

The Agreement-in-Principle would have provided $146 million over five years, but is now scheduled for phase-out on March 31st, 2007.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-5609

Nora Doherty, Chair Early Learning and Child Care Month Committee Regina Phone: (306) 525-2141 Email: ext. 122