Inuktut version available shortly
The President of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Rebecca Kudloo, today issued the following statement on the Nunavut child-care agreement.
“Pauktuutit is pleased to see the signing of the child-care agreement between the governments of Canada and Nunavut. In particular, the investment of 25 percent of the $66.1 million in new federal funding to increase the wages of professionals in early childhood education and child-care, the vast majority of whom are women, is very good news because recruitment and retention for these jobs is a big challenge.
“Pauktuutit was also pleased to see the focus on the delivery of bilingual child-care services, in English and Inuktut, in the agreement. The importance of learning Inuktut language and culture to children’s early education and development, as well as their long-term well-being, is well understood. The priority placed on language and culture in the delivery of child-care services will help to strengthen Nunavummiut and their communities.
“However, Pauktuutit is disappointed that today’s announcement made no commitment to new infrastructure funding for building and improving child-care centres that considers the northern reality of increased construction costs and extended timelines, particularly in communities across Nunavut that currently have no licensed day-care facilities. Long-term planning and funding approaches should be developed that can address the complexity of building in Inuit Nunangat. These investments are critical to ensuring safe, quality child care which is especially important for young children in remote communities.
“As well, the projected creation of 238 new spots by 2026 is insufficient given Nunavut has the highest birthrate in Canada. At 22.6 percent per 1,000 people in 2018, Nunavut’s birth rate was double the national average of 10.1 percent. Increasing the number of spaces to reflect the high birth rate in Nunavut is imperative, both for the women who are part of the Northern labour market which increasingly needs long-term workers and for the future prosperity of our communities.
— Rebecca Kudloo
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Pauktuutit is the national non-profit organization representing all Inuit women in Canada. Its mandate is to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, and to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural and economic development.
Media inquiries:
Amanda Deseure, 613.806.3336 or communications@pauktuutit.ca