After over 50 years of Canadians talking about child care reform, our Liberal government was the one to finally say, “Enough talk. Let’s do something about it.” 

Three years ago, on July 23, 2021, Yukon signed this historic agreement, committing to work with us to make affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality child care a reality for families.

As I look back on the progress we’ve made with Yukon and look ahead to what’s next, it’s clear that this system is all about one thing: fairness.

Yukon has been a leader in affordable child care, reaching an average of $10-a-day fees before signing on to the Canada-wide agreement.

Following in the footsteps of Quebec, Yukon has set a remarkable standard for making child care more accessible to all.

However, we also recognize that families in the North face unique challenges. The remote nature and harsh weather conditions can make daily life more complex and costly.

That’s why we worked with the territory to build on Yukon’s progress. In fact, as part of the agreements, more than 2,000 families in Yukon are saving up to $7,300 per child annually — that’s hundreds of dollars of savings each month!

With reduced fees, demand for child care has gone up. I’ve been hearing from a lot of parents who want to get back to work but can’t find a spot.

Making sure these families have access to quality child care is my number one priority, because getting a spot shouldn’t feel like winning the lottery — it should be something every parent has access to.

Creating spaces in the North can be much more expensive and challenging due to the short construction seasons and higher costs associated with building in remote areas.

Despite these challenges, Yukon has shown incredible ambition in its efforts to create more child care spaces.

Our initial goal was to create 110 new child care spots in Yukon by March 2026. Not only have we already achieved this goal, but it has nearly doubled with more than 200 new spots being announced across the territory!

It is also important to make sure children in Yukon learn in a culturally inclusive environment. In October 2021, Yukon introduced Cultural Enhancement Funding to create enriched and culturally vibrant early learning programs.

These programs focus on Yukon First Nations, place-based learning, Francophone language and culture, and others.

Parents also want their children to have quality child care services. They need to feel confident that their children are in safe, capable hands. 

Besides allowing our children to learn in an inclusive environment, early childhood educators (ECEs) are essential for creating new child care spots and reducing long waitlists. 

We must do more than just recruit and train; we need to retain and recognize the professionals who already work in the sector—not just with words, but with concrete actions. That’s why we have worked with Yukon to increase wages for ECEs, offering them the financial support they need as they support our families.

As we move forward, we must ensure that every family in Yukon and across Canada has access to affordable, high-quality child care.

By prioritizing fairness and investing in our child care system, we are not only supporting parents and educators but also paving the way for a brighter future for our children.

Let us protect these advancements and strive for an even better system where every child can thrive and every parent can have peace of mind.

This is what true fairness looks like, and it is within our reach.

Jenna Sudds, P.C.
Minister of Families, Children
and Social Development
Ottawa