| LOCAL MPPs CALL FOR COMMUNITY PROPOSALS TO THE EARLY YEARS CHALLENGE FUND
Waterloo-Wellington - Local MPPs announced on August 27, 2001 that the Ontario government is challenging communities in Waterloo Region, Wellington County and throughout the province to come forward with innovative and creative Early Years programs that will benefit children in Ontario.
Communities are being encouraged to develop partnerships and produce projects that will ensure children between the ages of 0 and 6 get the best possible start in life. Through the Early Years Challenge Fund, the government will match contributions raised in the community that support innovative plans drawing on resources from all sectors, including local businesses, and charitable and voluntary groups.
“The Early Years Challenge Fund is offering our community a unique opportunity to support children and give them the best possible start in life,” said Kitchener-Waterloo MPP and Minister of Environment Elizabeth Witmer. “We are being challenged to develop quality proposals that will benefit children and their families,” said Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott. “If we are successful, we could be eligible for at least $696,000,” added Mrs. Witmer.
“I am very supportive of our Early Years programs, which ensure that Ontario's children will have the best possible start in life. With this next step, we can work together towards this objective,” Mr. Arnott said.
For many years, Mr. Arnott has demonstrated an interest in programs to support Ontario's families. In 1998, he introduced a Private Member's resolution to highlight the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program. Following the passage of his resolution the annual budget for Healthy Babies, Healthy Children was increased from $10 million to $67 million annually.
More recently, during the Throne Speech debate in April 2001 and in a speech to the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Arnott also challenged business people to help support the development of young people by supporting the Ontario's Promise initiative. Ontario's Promise encourages partnerships and mentoring for Ontario's youth.
The potential amount of funding available to each of the 37 areas across Ontario is based on population as a percentage of the provincial population. Final decisions will be made by the Minister of Community and Social Services, John Baird, based on the creativity and strength of the proposals submitted.
Local projects can receive support through cash and in-kind contributions. All projects must be designed to support the new way of thinking outlined in the Early Years Study co-authored by Dr. Fraser Mustard and Margaret McCain. “The Mustard/McCain Study confirms that the better the nurturing and learning experience in early childhood, the better the outcomes,” said Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk.
Early Years Steering Committees and Community Coordinators have been established to support communities in forming networks and partnerships and to make proposals to the Challenge Fund. “Our government will continue to build on our commitment to support children in their early years,” said Kitchener Centre MPP Wayne Wettlaufer.
For more information on how you can participate, contact Janet McCreary, your local Early Years Community Coordinator at (519) 888-9250. |
