• Unreliable safety inspections at N.W.T. daycares put kids at risk, auditors find

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-21 23:14:15.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Governance]

  A report by the Auditor General of Canada revealed that the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment failed to fulfill key early learning and child care responsibilities, putting children at risk through unreliable safety inspections and a lack of follow-up on high-risk deficiencies such as missing smoke detectors. Auditors reviewed 44 inspection files and found that approximately 20 percent used outdated criteria, inspectors lacked formal standardized training, and the department disbursed funds to child care facilities without verifying enrollment reports or staff timesheets. Furthermore, the department fell short on monitoring inclusive child care spaces and failed to properly track recruitment and retention following the 2021 federal-territorial child care agreement.

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• Ottawa Commits Additional Funding for Federal Child Care Program in Ontario

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Education
  Date: 2026-09-29 14:34:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, National, Education, Social Services, Affordability, Finance]

  Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra announced that the federal government has extended additional funding to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, maintaining current average child care fees at $19 a day with maximum caps at $22 per day until June 30, 2027. Between the 2021-22 and 2026-27 fiscal years, Ontario is investing approximately $34.5 billion in child care and early years programs, which includes $12.3 billion dedicated specifically to child care programs, fee subsidies, wage enhancements, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the CARE tax credit. Both governments have committed to ongoing discussions regarding long-term program sustainability beyond June 2027 to ensure continued stability for families and the child care sector.

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• Province and feds extending affordable child-care program in Ontario, but fees stay the same

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-29 13:51:37.0
  Tags: [National, Ontario, Education, Social Services, Affordability]

  The federal government and the Government of Ontario have agreed to a four-year extension of the national affordable child-care program, backed by a funding envelope of nearly $12 billion plus a share of an additional $5.4 billion. Under the agreement, Ontario has committed to maintaining parent fees at an average of $19 a day—capped at $22—until June 30, 2027, falling short of the national program's $10-a-day goal. The province has created nearly 60,000 of its targeted 86,000 affordable child-care spaces as waitlists continue to grow across the province.

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• Advocates plea for feds to call inquiry into Alberta, Sask. trans laws

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-09-28 21:01:30.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Saskatchewan, National, Education, Healthcare, Social Services, Justice]

  LGBTQ+ advocates are petitioning the federal government in Ottawa to call a formal national inquiry into provincial legislation enacted in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The contested laws include parental consent mandates for students under 16 altering their names or pronouns at school, bans on transgender athletes aged 12 and older participating in competitive female sports, and restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for youth. Both Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe utilized the notwithstanding clause to protect these legislative measures from judicial review.

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• New funding commitment from territory isn’t enough to fill gap left by Jordan’s Principle, say educators

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-04 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Indigenous, Finance]

  The Northwest Territories Department of Education committed $35 million per year for at least three years toward inclusive schooling, staff training, and early childhood development. This territorial funding fails to fully offset a nearly $60 million loss in federal Jordan's Principle funding, prompting the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association to warn that schools remain severely underfunded and facing staff shortages. Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland stated that the territory is assessing its funding formula while continuing to advocate for additional federal support.

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• Saskatchewan Residents Support Social Media Limits for Youth

  Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
  Date: 2026-09-03 16:24:34.794894
  Tags: [Saskatchewan, National, Social Services, Technology, Education]

  The Government of Saskatchewan released findings from a province-wide survey showing that 86.34 per cent of respondents support implementing social media limits for children under the age of 16 across major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The survey, which also gathered input from non-profit organization Youth Matter Canada, indicated that respondents generally favor restrictions for youth aged 16 and under, though YouTube was most frequently identified as warranting an exemption. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr confirmed that the results have been forwarded to the Federal Government to help inform broader discussions regarding online safety and youth wellbeing.

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• Yukon’s hot lunch pilot in full force in new school year

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-08-30 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Indigenous]

  The Government of Yukon has fully launched its $5.3 million universal hot lunch pilot program in partnership with the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, supported by the federal National School Food Program. Running until March 2027, the initiative funds daily hot lunches for all students across seven participating Yukon schools using a mix of on-site and off-site meal preparation methods. The program aims to alleviate morning meal prep stress for families and improve student well-being, though administrators have noted logistical challenges including ingredient delivery, waste management, and limited kitchen infrastructure.

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• Q&A | N.W.T. Education minister says she’s still fighting to fill funding gap left by feds

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-08-28 18:04:19.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Indigenous, Finance, Social Services]

  The Government of the Northwest Territories faces a $58.6-million education funding gap following federal policy changes to the Jordan's Principle program, resulting in localized teacher layoffs and staffing shortages, including 13 teaching positions cut in Inuvik alone. In response to the shortfall, Northwest Territories Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland stated that the territorial government has allocated over $45 million in new education funding for the fiscal year, which includes $33 million dedicated to stabilizing inclusive schooling formulas. Territorial officials and education bodies are collaborating to share data and negotiate with federal officials, including Minister responsible for Jordan's Principle Mandy Gull-Masty, to address the funding deficit.

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