Author Description

Noting that in Canada, regulated child care and most other early childhood services are under provincial jurisdiction, this report provides statistical and other information on early childhood care and education services for each province and territory in Canada. Data were collected by means of questionnaires sent to each provincial/territorial child care office, interviews with officials, and follow-up interviews to ensure that information was accurate. Part 1 of the report discusses the federal role in early childhood care and education. Part 2, the bulk of the report, contains the following information for each province and territory: (1) relevant legislation; (2) official responsible for child care; (3) child care services available; (4) policies regarding children with special needs; (5) aboriginal child care programs; (6) demographic and family leave information; (7) statistics on child care spaces; (8) standards and regulations; (9) funding; (10) municipal role; (11) child care planning and development; (12) related services such as kindergarten and aboriginal Head Start; (13) history of child care in the province/territory and recent developments; and (14) key provincial child care organizations. This part also presents nationwide information on aboriginal early childhood care and education, discusses issues of flexibility, accessibility, and cultural integrity, and describes government programs and policies. Parts 3 and 4 contain tables detailing national and provincial/territory statistics for the most recent information and trend data. (Contains approximately 175 references.) (KB)