SURREY, BC, May 02, 2023 – Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is pleased to receive distinctions-based funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia that will improve access to community-designed and delivered child care for Métis families. Funding of $9 million through the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreement will provide support to plan, implement, and create approximately 100 new culturally relevant child care spaces for Métis children.
“By partnering with MNBC, we’re working together to improve access to child care that meets the unique Métis-led needs of Métis families so children can learn according to their culture,” said Grace Lore, B.C.'s Minister of State for Child Care. “We’re committed to reducing barriers to culturally relevant child care as we work to build a future where child care is a core service that all families can rely on so all children get the best start in life.”
“Access to high-quality early learning and child care that takes into account their knowledge, cultures, languages, traditions, values and customs is essential for Métis children and families,” said Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould. “This funding will help create additional culturally relevant child care spaces and give Indigenous children the resources they need to succeed in life.”
“Distinction-based funding from the Province and federal government recognizes that Métis children and families are a distinct Indigenous group,” says Debra Fisher, MNBC Minister of Education and Early Years. “The Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and Action Plan made specific recommendations to provide distinctions-based funding for MNBC, the Métis Nation Government in B.C.”
This work builds on the ChildCareBC plan which specifies that Indigenous children and families are to have full access to all child care system enhancements and that government has an obligation to ensure Indigenous children, families, and communities have access to child care that meets their specific needs. Engagement with MNBC to explore the proposed approaches and strategies to support Métis-led child care in B.C. continues.
MNBC values the partnership with the Province, a partnership model that is premised on co-development and Métis-led decision-making to determine priority areas for investment, funding allocations, and work plans. This investment supports B.C. Métis children and families and provides greater access to culturally appropriate, affordable, high-quality, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care programs and services.