The second phase of the proposed changes to the Early Learning and Child Care Regulations are now available for review and feedback. 

These proposed changes have been drafted based on feedback from Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, licensed early learning and child care program operators, and early childhood educators on proposed approaches to the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) certification process, wage grid and funding mechanism.

The Regulations set out the minimum standards in a licensed early learning and child care program to ensure the safety, well-being and developmental needs of children are met. The proposed changes would:

• Create new funding programs to support licensed home-based and centre-based programs.
• Provide funding based on enrollment or space rather than attendance.
• Develop a wage grid and qualification standards for early childhood educators.
• Incorporate the Child Care Fee Reduction subsidy into the operational funding for licensed centre-based programs.

For more details on the proposed changes to the Early Learning and Child Care Regulations, please read the plain language summary.

Feedback provided during this engagement period will be reviewed, summarized and considered before the proposed regulations are finalized.

Provide your feedback to earlylearning@gov.nt.ca by September 16, 2024.

Virtual engagement sessions will also be hosted with licensed family day homes and centre-based early learning and child care programs. Additional information on these sessions will be shared directly with licensed programs.

As part of engagement on Early Learning and Child Care Regulations changes, Indigenous governments will be invited to participate in government-to-government engagement.  

For media requests, please contact:

Public Affairs and Communications
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories 
ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca