Canada – Yukon Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - 2021 to 2025

2.1 Objectives

2.1.1 Canada and Yukon agree that over the period of this Agreement, with financial support from Canada, Yukon will further build its early learning and child care system by addressing local, regional and system priorities that have an impact on families more in need by increasing the quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and inclusivity in early learning and child care, towards achieving the objectives of:

1. building on existing territorial investments in early learning and child care programs to support expansion of programs that continue to support children, parents, families and communities

Yukon’s policy towards early learning and child care and approach to achieving these objectives is set out in their action plan attached as Annex 2.

2.1.2 Canada and Yukon agree that for fiscal year 2021 to 2022 only, Canada will provide a one-time contribution to Yukon that will be used to support the recruitment and retention of the early childhood workforce, in accordance with Annex 3.

2.2 Eligible areas of investment

2.2.1 Yukon agrees to prioritize funds provided by Canada under this Agreement in regulated early learning and child care programs and services for children under the age of 6 where:

1. regulated programs and services are defined as those that meet standards that are established and/or monitored by provincial or territorial governments
2. early learning and child care programs and services are defined as those supporting direct care and early learning for children in settings including, but not limited to, regulated child care centres, regulated family child care homes, early learning centres, preschools and nursery schools

2.2.2 In developing and delivering its early learning and child care programs and services, Yukon agrees to take into account the needs of official language minority communities in Yukon, as “official language” is understood under Canada’s Official Languages Act.

2.2.3 Acceptable investments under this agreement may include but are not limited to:

• capital and operating funding for regulated early learning and child care
• fee subsidies
• training
• professional development and support for the early childhood workforce
• quality assurance
• parent information and referral
• certain administration costs incurred by Yukon in implementing and administering this Agreement

2.2.4 Canada and Yukon also agree to promote, define, and deliver identifiable innovative approaches to enhance the quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility, and inclusivity of early learning and child care systems, with consideration for those more in need.

2.2.5 Canada and Yukon agree that funding will be targeted toward regulated programs and activities, as described above, for children under the age of 6, that will have an impact on families more in need such as:

• lower-income families
• Indigenous families
• lone-parent families
• families in underserved communities
• those families with caregivers who work non-standard hours
• racialized families including Black families
• children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual supports

Needs also include having limited or no access to early learning and child care programs and services in the children’s official language, as “official language” is understood under Canada’s Official Languages Act

2.2.6 In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, given the extraordinary circumstances of COVID-19, Yukon may allocate funding under this agreement to support short-term measures to minimize the impacts of COVID-19 on Yukon’s ELCC system. These measures must be aligned with the principles of the Multilateral ELCC Framework (Annex 1) and be used to sustain ELCC programs and services.

3.2 Extension of bilateral agreements

3.2.1 Subject to Parliamentary approval of appropriations, Canada commits that the total annual allocation for all provinces and territories for the period of fiscal year 2025 to 2026 to fiscal year 2027 to 2028 will be no less than the total annual allocation for all provinces and territories for the fiscal year covered under the fiscal year 2020 to 2021 Agreement. Funding during the fiscal year 2025 to 2026 to fiscal year 2027 to 2028 period will be provided upon the execution of another extension of this bilateral Agreement and conditional on Canada’s acceptance of new action plans and informed by the assessment of the results achieved under the action plan set out in Annex 2.

3.2.2 The extension will provide Yukon and Canada the opportunity to review and course correct, if required, and realign new priorities in future bilateral agreements based on progress made to date.

3.2.3 In the event this bilateral agreement is extended in accordance with the terms of section 3.2.1, Yukon may continue to use funding provided thereunder to cover the same eligible areas of investment as those covered through funding received for the period 2021 to 2025 subject to the terms and conditions of that extended agreement.

4.2 Allocation to Yukon

4.2.1 Canada has designated the following maximum amounts to be transferred in total to all provinces and territories under this initiative with a fixed base rate of $2 million per year for each province and territory and the balance of the funding on a per capita basis for the period starting on April 1, 2021 and ending on March 31, 2025:

1. $399,347,694 for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2021
2. $524,347,694 for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2022
3. $565,847,694 for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2023
4. $565,847,694 for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2024

4.2.2 Subject to annual adjustment based on the formula described in section 4.2.3, Yukon’s estimated share of the amounts described in section 4.2.1 will be as follows.

*Amount represents annual estimates based on Statistics Canada population estimates

4.2.3 The final yearly amount to be paid to Yukon will be calculated using the formula F x K/L, where:

• F is the annual total funding amount transferred to provinces and territories minus the base funding
• K is the total population of Yukon, as determined using annual population estimates from Statistics Canada
• L is the total population of Canada, as determined using annual population estimates from Statistics Canada

4.2.4 For the purposes of the formula in section 4.2.3, the population of Yukon for each fiscal year and the total population of all provinces and territories for that fiscal year are the respective populations as determined on the basis of the quarterly preliminary estimates of the respective populations on July 1 of that fiscal year released in September of that fiscal year by Statistics Canada.

4.3 In this Agreement, “fiscal year” means the period commencing on April 1 of any calendar year and terminating on March 31 of the immediately following calendar year.

4.4 Payment

4.4.1 Subject to Parliamentary approval of appropriations, Canada’s contribution will be paid in approximately equal semi-annual installments as follows.

4.4.2 In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, the first installment will be paid within 30 days after the signatures from both Parties are affixed to the Agreement. The second installment will be paid on or about November 15.

4.4.3 Beginning in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, the first installment will be paid on or about June 15 of each fiscal year. The second installment will be paid on or about November 15 of each fiscal year.

4.4.4 The amount of the first installment will be an amount equal to 50% of the notional amount of Canada’s maximum contribution to Yukon for the fiscal year, which will be calculated in the manner described in sections 4.2.3 and 4.2.4.

4.4.5 The amount of the second installment will be an amount equal to the balance of Canada’s contribution to Yukon for the fiscal year based on the actual amount of the contribution determined under sections 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 for the fiscal year.

4.4.6 Canada will notify Yukon at the beginning of the fiscal year of their notional amount. The notional amount will be based on the Statistics Canada quarterly preliminary population estimates on July 1 of the preceding fiscal year. Canada will notify Yukon of the actual amount of the second installment in each fiscal year as determined under the formula set out in section 4.2.3 as soon as possible following the release in September of each year of the Statistics Canada quarterly preliminary population estimates referred to in section 4.2.4.

4.4.7 Starting in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, Canada shall withhold payment of its first installment for each fiscal year if Yukon has failed to provide its annual action plan in respect of that fiscal year in accordance with section 5.1.3 until such time as the annual action plan is provided.

4.4.8 In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, Canada shall withhold payment of its second installment for that fiscal year until Yukon provides its annual audited financial statement of the last fiscal year covered by the Agreement signed in 2020 in accordance with section 5.2.1 (d) of that Agreement.

4.4.9 Beginning in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, Canada shall withhold payment of its second installment for the fiscal year if Yukon has failed to provide its annual audited financial statement for the previous fiscal year in accordance with section 5.2.1 (d) until such time as the annual audited statement is provided.

4.4.10 The sum of both semi-annual installments constitutes a final payment and is not subject to any further adjustment once the second installment of that fiscal year has been paid.

4.4.11 Payment of Canada’s funding for each fiscal year of this Agreement is subject to an annual appropriation by the Parliament of Canada for this purpose. Likewise, use of the funding by Yukon is subject to an annual appropriation by Yukon’s Legislature.

4.5 Maximum annual contribution in respect of administration costs

4.5.1 Canada’s contribution in respect of Yukon’s administration costs referred to in section 2.2.3 and section 2.3 of Annex 3 shall not exceed:

• in the fiscal years covered under this Agreement an amount of up to or equal to 10% of the maximum amount payable for those fiscal years

4.6 Carry forward

4.6.1 At the request of Yukon, and subject to the approval of Canada’s Treasury Board, Yukon may retain and carry forward to the following fiscal year any unexpended funds remaining from Yukon’s annual contribution paid under section 4.2, up to a maximum of 10% of the contribution paid. Any unexpended funds in excess of 10% of the contribution paid represents an overpayment subject to section 4.7.

4.6.2 Yukon may only use the amount carried forward to the following fiscal year for expenditures on eligible areas of investment made under section 2.2 incurred that fiscal year.

4.6.3 For greater certainty, any unexpended funds remaining from Yukon’s annual contribution paid under section 4.2, up to a maximum of 10% of the contribution paid to Yukon in the last year of the Agreement signed in 2020, is eligible for carry forward to the first year of this Agreement.

4.6.4 For greater certainty, any amount carried forward under section 4.6.1 is supplementary to the maximum amount payable to Yukon under section 4.2 of this Agreement during the fiscal year in which the funding is carried forward.  

4.6.5 All amounts carried forward to the next fiscal year, pursuant to section 4.6.1 must be spent by the end of that fiscal year. Yukon is not entitled to retain any such carried forward amounts that remain unexpended after the end of that fiscal year, nor is it entitled to retain any balance of Canada's contribution paid pursuant to section 4.2 that remains unexpended at the end of that fiscal year and that is not carried forward in accordance with section 4.6.1. Such amounts are considered debts due to Canada and shall be repaid in accordance with section 4.7.

4.6.6 In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, at the request of Yukon, and subject to the approval of Canada’s Treasury Board, Yukon may retain and carry forward to the following fiscal year any unexpended funds remaining from Yukon’s annual contribution paid under section 3.3 of Annex 3, up to a maximum of 50% of the contribution paid. Any unexpended funds in excess of 50% of this contribution paid represents an overpayment subject to section 4.7 of this Agreement.

4.7 Repayment of overpayment

4.7.1 In the event payments made to Yukon exceed the amount to which Yukon is entitled under the Agreement, the amount of the excess is a debt due to Canada and shall be repaid to Canada upon receipt of notice to do so and within the period specified in the notice.

4.7.2 Canada shall, in addition to any other remedies available, have the right to recover the debt by deducting or setting-off the amount of the debt from any future contribution payable to Yukon under this Agreement.

4.8 Use of funds

4.8.1 Canada and Yukon agree that funds provided under this Agreement will only be used by Yukon in accordance with the areas for investment outlined in section 2.2 of this Agreement.

4.8.2 Canada and Yukon agree that, within each fiscal year of the period of this Agreement, Yukon may move funding between the individual programming categories outlined in its action plan in Annex 2 to ensure maximum use of funding. Yukon agrees to notify Canada in writing of any such change in funding allocation, including the rationale for the change.

5.1 Action plan

5.1.1 Yukon has completed and shared its action plan for fiscal year 2021 to 2022 with Canada as set out in Annex 2 of this Agreement. Upon signature of this Agreement by both parties, Yukon will publicly release its action plan which:

1. identifies specific priority areas for investment and objectives, within the Framework’s parameters, which builds upon the progress to date, including maintaining and building on the more affordable spaces created under the 2017 to 2021 Agreement, and further enhancing the quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and/or inclusivity of their early learning and child care system, with consideration for those more in need
2. describes how Yukon plans to continue to address the early learning and child care needs of its children/families more in need, as described in section 2.2.5
3. outlines planned innovation spending
4. demonstrates and confirms that federal investments will be incremental, and will not displace existing Yukon early learning and child care spending, in particular spending dedicated to Indigenous populations
5. outlines the indicators that will be reported on annually according to their planned investments
6. identifies specific targets for each indicator that will be reported on annually for tracking progress in relation to the objectives of the Agreement
7. identifies additional jurisdiction-specific indicators for tracking progress in relation to the objectives of the Agreement
8. a description of consultation processes referred to in section 5.1.2, the type of groups consulted and annual priorities related to stakeholder feedback

5.1.2 Yukon will complete targeted engagement with parents, child care providers, experts, Indigenous peoples, official language minority communities and other interested Yukoners as an important step in developing and revising its action plan. The engagement will include, but is not limited to, letters sent to First Nation government leadership offering opportunities to share views and thoughts, surveys targeted at child care operator’s, day homes and parents or guardians including low-income families and meetings with child care advocacy groups, early learning and child care staff and the French language community. The goal of this engagement is to gather input on how to better address the early learning and child care needs of Yukon communities.

5.1.3 By May 1 of each fiscal year during the period of this Agreement, starting in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, Yukon agrees to share with Canada an annual action plan. The annual action plan shall include the elements described in section 5.1.1 a) to h). Once the Parties agree that the annual action plan is final, it may be published by one or both of the Parties.

5.2 Reporting

5.2.1 By no later than October 1 of each fiscal year during the Period of this Agreement, Yukon agrees to:

1. report to the people of Yukon and to Canada on the results and expenditures of early learning and child care programs and services. The report shall include the number of children benefiting from subsidies, number of licensed early learning and child care spaces broken down by age of child and type of setting. The report shall show separately the results attributable to the funding provided by Canada under this Agreement
2. continue to provide to Canada data required for the publication of the joint Federal-Provincial-Territorial Report on Public Investments in Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada
3. provide to Canada an annual report in the format and manner decided jointly by Canada and Yukon. The report shall show separately the results attributable to the funding provided by Canada under this Agreement and shall include:
   1. brief description of the activities, expenditures and results of the Agreement as set out in Annex 2 and 4
   2. results achieved according to the indicators and targets referred to in Annex 2 and 4
   3. the impact on families more in need, as described in section 2.2.5
   4. results achieved on innovation referred to in Annex 2
   5. description of any consultation processes undertaken and the stakeholder groups consulted consistent with section 5.1.2
   6. any evaluation activities that may have been undertaken in the fiscal year, as available
4. provide to Canada an audited financial statement of revenues received from Canada under this Agreement during the fiscal year:
   1. the revenue section of the statement shall show the amount received from Canada under this Agreement during the fiscal year
   2. the total amount of funding used for early learning and child care programs and services under section 2.2
   3. the administration costs incurred by Yukon in developing and administering early learning and child care programs under section 2.2.3
   4. if applicable, the amount of any amount carried forward by Yukon under section 4.6
   5. if applicable, the amount of any surplus funds that are to be repaid to Canada under section 4.7
   The financial statement shall be prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the audit shall be performed by the Yukon Auditor General or his/her delegate, or by an independent public accounting firm registered under the laws of Yukon and shall be conducted in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Auditing Standards.

5.2.2 Canada, with prior notice to Yukon, may incorporate all or any part or parts of the said report into any public report that Canada may prepare for its own purposes, including any reports to the Parliament of Canada or reports that may be made public.

5.3 Audit

5.3.1 Yukon will ensure that expenditure information presented in the annual report is, in accordance with Yukon’s standard accounting practices, complete and accurate.

5.4 Evaluation

5.4.1 As per established policies and processes with respect to program effectiveness, Yukon will evaluate programs and services receiving funds provided under this Agreement and make public the results of any such evaluations.

9.2 Waiver

9.2.1 Failure by any Party to exercise any of its rights, powers, or remedies under this Agreement or its delay to do so does not constitute a waiver of those rights, powers or remedies. Any waiver by either Party of any of its rights, powers or remedies under this Agreement must be in writing; and, such a waiver does not constitute a continuing waiver unless it is explicitly stated.

Introduction

In 2020, the Government of Yukon accepted the recommendation from the territory’s ‘Putting People First’ report, prepared by an independent expert panel, that it work towards a fully-funded, universal early childhood education program for all children over age 1 by:

• transferring the mandate for early learning and child care services from Health and Social Services to Education
• moving towards universal access to early learning and child care for all Yukon families, including increasing the current subsidy system
• increasing training and certification opportunities for child care providers

To address this recommendation, the government directed the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services to develop a Yukon universal early learning child care model similar to the Quebec model. This model was implemented on April 1, 2021, and the Department of Education continues to work with partners and stakeholders, including Yukon First Nation governments, to further develop and refine the model.

The implementation of universal early learning and child care (ELCC) in Yukon was preceded in the winter and spring of 2021 by engagement with:

• the Yukon Child Care Board
• the Yukon Child Care Association
• Yukon University
• child care centre and day home operators from across Yukon
• the Network for Healthy Early Human Development and Partners for Children
• the Child Development Centre
• the early childhood educators of Yukon Territory
• the Yukon First Nations Education Directorate
• the Yukon First Nations Education Commission
• the Yukon First Nations Health Commission
• individual Yukon First Nations

Education and Health and Social Services also worked together to transfer the Child Care Services Unit and mandate for early learning from health and social services to education effective April 1, 2021. The legislative changes necessary to formally transfer the mandate for early learning and child care to the Department of Education were passed in May, 2021.

Summary of the new Yukon universal early learning and child care funding model

The Government of Yukon has budgeted a total of $25,202,000 in fiscal year 2021 to 2022 to support universal early learning and child care, and acknowledged that costs in fiscal year 2021 to 2022 could be as high as $37 million. All licensed operators have the choice to opt in to the new program within 2 years by signing Transfer Payment Agreements. As of July 2021, every licensed operator in Yukon except 1 had opted in to the new program.

Ongoing development of the universal early learning and child care model

The Government of Yukon will continue to refine the new program through ongoing collaboration with First Nations governments, the Yukon Child Care Board, stakeholders and Yukoners by prioritizing the following objectives:

• build capacity and high quality programs by working with operators in the design and delivery of their early learning programs, including by providing early learning support from the Department of Education
• develop qualified skilled and valued early learning professionals
• encourage Yukoners to pursue early childhood education as a long-term career
• work with partners and stakeholders on a fair wage schedule for qualified early childhood educators
• establish a benefits plan for early childhood educators, to be cost-shared by operators, employees, and the government
• work with partners and stakeholders to implement an early learning curriculum framework
• amend existing policies to promote quality early learning programs
• partner with post-secondary institutions, including Yukon University, to support early childhood educator programs, in particular that are accessible to residents of rural Yukon communities
• continue to partner with Yukon First Nation governments to address their early learning and child care needs

Initiatives, indicators and targets

What follows is a description of the specific initiatives that the Government of Yukon is undertaking, leveraging the funding provided by the federal government, to support the ongoing implementation of universal early learning and child care in Yukon.

Preamble

Whereas, Canada and Yukon agree that the early childhood workforce is integral to providing high-quality ELCC.

Whereas, the Multilateral ELCC Framework is based on 5 key principles, one of which is ensuring ELCC systems are of high quality.

Whereas, the Multilateral ELCC Framework recognizes the importance of qualifications and training for the early childhood workforce as part of a high quality ELCC system.

Now therefore, the parties agree as follows.

1.0 Purpose

1.1 Canada and Yukon agree that for fiscal year 2021 to 2022 only, a one-time financial support from Canada to Yukon will be used support the recruitment and retention of the early childhood workforce.

2.0 Area of focus

2.1 Yukon agrees to utilize funding in licensed/regulated settings to support the attraction and retention of a qualified workforce, including through training, professional development, wages, bursary programs, tuition support and grants.

2.2 For greater clarity, activities that may support the objective of attracting and retaining a qualified workforce include but are not limited to: providing employment and training opportunities and supports, lowering the cost of education for those seeking their early childhood educator degree or certificate, supporting the workforce in providing quality ELCC, and improving the ability to provide support to families more in need, including lower-income families; Indigenous families; lone-parent families; families with children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual supports; Black and racialized children; families from Official Language Minority Communities; families in underserved communities; and/or those working non-standard hours. Needs also include having limited or no access to programs and services in the children's official language.

2.3 Yukon may use up to 10% of its workforce funding allocation towards administration costs.

3.0 Financial provisions

3.1 In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, to be paid concurrently with the contribution provided under section 4.2. of the Agreement, Canada has designated the following maximum amount to be transferred in total to all provinces and territories under this initiative with a fixed base rate of $2 million per year for each province and territory, and the balance of the funding on a per child (0 to 12) basis:

1. $420,000,000 for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2021

3.2 The final amount to be paid to Yukon is determined by the formula F x K/L, where:

• F is the total funding amount transferred to provinces and territories minus the base funding
• K is the population of children aged 0 to 12 in Yukon in fiscal year 2021 to 2022, as determined using population estimates from Statistics Canada
• L is the total population of children aged 0 to 12 in Canada in fiscal year 2021 to 2022, as determined using population estimates from Statistics Canada

3.3 Subject to adjustment based on the formula described in section 3.2 of this Annex, Yukon’s estimated share of the amount described in section 3.1 (a) of this Annex will be as follows.

For the purposes of the formula in section 3.2 of this Annex, the population of children aged 0 to 12 in Yukon for the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year and the population of children aged 0 to 12 in all provinces and territories for that fiscal year are the respective populations as determined on the basis of the preliminary estimates of the respective populations on July 1 of that fiscal year. These estimates are released by Statistics Canada in September of each fiscal year.

3.4 Sections 4.6.1 to 4.6.6 of the Agreement, respecting carry forward, apply to funds provided under this Annex.

4.0 Accountability

Developing qualified, skilled and valued early learning professionals

Yukon early learning and child care educators are recognized and valued as qualified professionals with specialized knowledge of young children, and have the supports they need to establish meaningful careers delivering high-quality, inclusive early learning programming that is child and family centered.

Initiative 1: Flexible career pathways

Yukon has committed to demonstrating meaningful progress on improving quality, by increasing the percentage of early childhood educators providing regulated child care in the territory who fully meet Yukon’s certification requirements to at least 60% by fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

This initiative provides funding to support alternative career pathways for educators towards full credentialing. Many of Yukon’s educators are practicing without a certificate or a diploma. This initiative creates flexible and alternative pathways for educators currently working in the field to further and complete their education.

This initiative will:

• provide career counselling to develop an individualized career pathway for educators practicing without a certificate or diploma. This will include one-on-one meetings between educators and career counsellors to determine the best path forward towards becoming credentialed through part-time study at post-secondary institutions
• provide funding to post secondary institutions to support innovative practicum placements. Many ECEs struggle to complete traditional practicum placements due to the inability to take unpaid time away from work. Innovative practicums may include paid practicums and completing practicums in current work environment with increased mentorship
• review Yukon’s current credentialing system and plan for improvements in order to modernize Yukon legislation and align with post-secondary institutions and other jurisdictions

Initiative 2: Indigenous and rural education opportunities

This initiative will direct federal funding to develop and offer ECE courses with post-secondary institutions for Indigenous and rural Yukoners. This initiative creates increased opportunities for Indigenous and rural educators to begin, to further or complete their education.

This initiative will:

• engage with Yukon First Nation governments and organizations in creating meaningful, culturally relevant opportunities
• collaborate with Yukon First Nation governments, organizations as well as post-secondary institutions to develop and offer rural and indigenous ECE courses
• increase accessibility to access intensive, fully subsidized courses with post-secondary institutions

Initiative 3: Professional development and support

Professional development gives ECEs the opportunity to learn and apply new knowledge and skills that helps them provide high quality programming for Yukon children.

This initiative provides funding for supportive and ongoing professional development opportunities for Yukon’s early years educators to develop current and best practice.

This initiative will:

• create an online platform to connect Yukon educators with professional development and learning, access to online courses, learning networks, and communities of practice. This virtual network will connect educators to engage in professional conversations, and provide online access to professional learning resources
• create a fund for educators to access non-credit professional development opportunities. This is especially important for full-qualified educators who do not require further credited post-secondary coursework
• create a fund accessible to stakeholder groups to create and host approved professional development opportunities, such as conferences
• provide funding for Yukon education early learning program specialists to develop and provide learning networks, conferences and professional development opportunities to educators in Yukon and ensure materials and playthings are accessible during ongoing experiential learning opportunities and mentorship activities

Initiative 4: Valuing the early childhood educator

This initiative provides funding to ensure Yukon’s early learning and child care educators are recognized and valued as qualified professionals with specialized knowledge of young children. This initiative will also empower educators to recognize the value they provide children and families across Yukon. This recognition and valuing is an important component in the recruitment and retention of skilled ECEs.

This initiative will:

• contract a communications agency to develop and deliver a Valuing ECE local awareness campaign designed to address general public perception, celebrate educators, and share promising practices and success stories
• provide funding to the Yukon Child Care Board to raise awareness and promote the value of the educator and the early years
• recognize and celebrate leaders in early learning and child care, including Indigenous and Francophone educators, by establishing early childhood educator awards. Funding would be used to host a recognition event where awards will be presented

Initiative 5: Benefits program

This initiative will research and fund an employee benefits plan for Yukon early childhood educators. In order to recruit and retain educators, it is important that they have compensation and benefits equivalent to others in similar fields.

Initiative 6: Recruitment of early childhood educators

This initiative will provide funding to attract experienced and qualified Early Childhood Educators to Yukon. It will encourage young adults to choose Early Childhood Education as a profession and to establish meaningful careers delivering high-quality, inclusive early learning programs to Yukon children.

This initiative will:

• contract an agency to develop and implement a recruitment campaign designed to attract qualified educators with certificates and diplomas to Yukon and designed to re-attract Yukon early childhood educators who previously left the field
• develop a recruitment strategy and marketing materials for Yukon high schools

Administration