We are on a 5-year journey to build a system of child care that is inclusive, affordable, and accessible. We are committed to moving forward together with the people who serve families and children. This includes operators and Early Childhood Educators.
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Pension & Group Benefits
NS Canada-Wide Agreement
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is a five-year federal-provincial agreement which was signed on July 13, 2021.
The long-term vision is to provide families with access to affordable, high-quality and inclusive child care province wide. Key milestones for 2022 include:
- April 1, 25 per cent, on average, parent fee reduction
- Establish the Engagement Table on Early Learning and Child Care
- Improve ECE wages based on new compensation framework (Fall)
- Reduce parent fees by a total of 50 per cent, on average (December)
- 1,500 new early learning and child care spaces
How it works: 50 per cent fee reduction
Funded Centres
Centres that have signed the 2022-23 Quality Investment Grant (QIG) Funding Agreement will receive funding to directly replace fee reductions. The first advance will arrive in bank accounts on April 1, 2022. QIG funding and funding for fee reductions cannot be advanced to operators until funding agreements are signed and received by the Department.
Distributing the Fee Reduction
After April 1, licensed, funded operators must apply fee reductions directly to families’ accounts. If you have questions, please contact the Department as quickly as possible.
Retroactive Fee Reduction Payment (January 1 – March 31, 2022)
Funding will be provided directly to licensed, funded centres before the end of April 2022, who will then work with families to determine if they would like a credit or reimbursement for fees paid between January 1 and March 31. The expectation is that the operators pass on reimbursement to families no later than by the end of May, 2022.
Unfunded Centres
Centres that choose not to sign the 2022-23 Quality Investment Grant (QIG) Funding Agreement will not have access to funding to directly replace fee reductions, the one-time grant, or funding to offer the wage and compensation package for Early Childhood Educators, planned for Fall 2022. Unfunded centres will continue to have access to the following:
- All licensed child care centres, regardless of funding, can access the Child Care Subsidy Program for families when needed.
- Current licence will remain unchanged.
Daily Fee Reduction Amounts by Age Category
| Average Fees before Reductions | Jan 1, 2022 Average Fee Reduction ($) | Dec 31, 2022 Average Fee Reduction ($) | Total Average 50% Fee Reductions ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Child Care Centres | ||||
| Infant | 42.00 | -10.50 | -12.50 | -23.00 |
| Toddler | 36.00 | -9.00 | -9.25 | -18.25 |
| Preschool: Full Day | 35.00 | -8.75 | -9.50 | -18.25 |
| Preschool: Part Day ? | 15.00 | -3.75 | -0.75 | -4.50 |
| School Age: Full Day | 27.00 | -6.75 | -3.25 | -10.00 |
| School Age: Before and After? | 20.00 | -5.00 | -1.00? | -6.00 |
| School Age: After Only | 16.00 | -4.00 | -0.50 | -4.50 |
| School Age: Before Only | 12.00 | -3.00 | 0.00 | -3.00 |
| Family Home Child Care | ||||
| Infant | 34.00 | -8.50 | -8.50 | -17.00 |
| Toddler | 33.00 | -8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| Preschool: Full Day | 33.00 | -8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| School Age: Full Day | 33.00 | -8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| School Age: Before and After | 20.00 | -5.00 | -1.00 | -6.00 |
| School Age: After Only | 16.00 | -4.00 | 0.00 | -4.00 |
| School Age: Before Only | 12.00 | -3.00 | 0.00 | -3.00 |
| Nova Scotia Before and After Programs | ||||
| School Age: Before and After | 17.00 | -4.25 | 0.00 | -4.25 |
| School Age: After Only | 13.00 | -3.25 | 0.00 | -3.25 |
| School Age: Before Only | 6.00 | -1.50 | 0.00 | -1.50 |
Each of these age categories is defined in the Early Learning and Child Care Regulations. Definitions are as follows:
- “Infant” means a child who is younger than 18 months old.
- “Toddler” means a child who is between 18 months old and 35 months old, inclusive.
- “Preschooler” means a child who is 36 months old or older and is not attending school.
- “School-age child” means a child who is attending school and is not older than 12 on December 31 of the school year.
- “School-age program” means a child-care program that provides childcare for children attending school or a pre-primary program.
Minor Infrastructure Program
The Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Minor Infrastructure Program provides funding for the creation of not-for-profit child care spaces.
Entities with projects approved are eligible for up to $250,000 (based on a maximum of $10,000 per space) towards eligible project costs, with up to an additional $25,000 (based on a maximum of 10% of the total project cost) for expenses related to project design, project management, and legal fees.
Applications for the program are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Frequently asked questions
Operators
ECE’s
Selling my business
Child Care Space Expansion
1,500 new daycare spaces are being created before the end of 2023, at various locations throughout the Province. Here is what you need to know.
Before and After School Program
Francophone Service Delivery
Not-for-profit transition pilot
Sector Memos
- 12 October 2022 - ECE Classification Process and Timelines
- 12 October 2022 - Higher Wages for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs)
- 10 August 2022 - Summer Update
- 30 May 2022 - Announcement and Sector Call
- 16 May 2022 – Adapting Spaces and Sales
- 18 Feb 2022 – 2022-23 Funding Agreement, Parent Fee Reductions, and One Time Grant
Sector Calls
Funding Agreements and Action Plan Sector Call (22 February 2024)
- Slide deck (PDF)
- Sector call (video)
2023-2024 Funding Agreements Updates (February 22, 2023)
- Family Home Child Care - Slide Deck (PowerPoint)
- Child Care Centres - Slide Deck (PowerPoint)
Fee Reduction Information Session (Nov 2022)
Sector Connect with Minister Becky Druhan: Private Operator Sector Call (November 2022)
Not-For-Profit Sector Call (November 2022)
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