Canada's federal budget 2021, which was unveiled on Monday, promises an ambitious nationwide early learning and childcare plan with proposed new investments of up to $30 billion over the next five years.
This will eventually result in a 50 per cent reduction in average childcare fees by the end of 2022, with a view to it costing about 10 Canadian dollars ($8) per day for all regulated childcare spaces across the country by 2025-26.
The new plan also promises "ongoing annual growth" in the number of spaces, as well as "meaningful progress" in the creation of before and after-school care.
"Early learning and childcare has long been a feminist issue," Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland wrote on Twitter as she outlined her proposals online. "Covid has shown us that it is an urgent economic issue, too."
Inclusivity in childcare
Over the next two years, a proposed CAD$29.2 million will be spent on supporting childcare centres to improve accessibility for children with disabilities, potentially benefitting more than 400 venues. This includes the construction of ramps and accessible doors, washrooms and play structures.
Another major focus of the proposal is addressing the needs of Canada's indigenous families and children. A proposed investment of $2.5 billion will be spent over the next five years on strengthening the country's 2018 framework that promises high quality, culturally appropriate childcare for this demographic.
Melanie Omeniho, president of Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak / Women of the Metis Nation applauded Freeland's "historic budget submission", the first presented by a female finance minister in Canadian history.
"This budget assertively invests in improving the wellness, lives and safety of Metis women and girls," Omeniho said in a statement.
The cost of childcare in Canada
At the moment, across some parts of Canada, childcare fees for one child can be as high as rent or mortgage payments, according to the budget.
A 2021 study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which updates the ranking of the most and least expensive cities for childcare in Canada, found that in 2020, families were paying on average more than CAD$1,000 per month in cities such as Calgary and Vancouver, with Toronto topping the list at more than CAD$1,700 per month.
"The high cost of childcare ... is a tax on a segment of the population that Canada requires to drive economic growth," reads the budget proposal. "Young families are juggling sky high housing costs, the increasing cost of living, expected to save up for their retirements, while managing childcare fees."
The only exception is in Quebec, where childcare is already subsidised. When the Quebec Educational Childcare Act was introduced in 1997, the province's women's labour force participation rate was four percentage points lower than the rest of Canada.
Today, it is four points higher, women with children under 3 have some of the highest employment rates in the world and studies have shown childcare has raised its GDP by 1.7 per cent, according to the budget proposal.
Why the focus on childcare?
"This is an economic issue as much as it is a social issue," states the proposal by Canada's Department of Finance.
Particularly amid the pandemic, full-time licensed childcare in most Canadian cities has been struggling under the financial burden caused by Covid-19, according to the study by CCPA. It noted a dramatic drop in enrolment as for-profit centre fees remain unaffordable.
"Without access to childcare, parents cannot fully participate in our economy," reads the proposal. "This is a legacy investment for today's children who will not only benefit from, but also inherit this system."
Ultimately, the idea is that this new early learning and childcare plan will drive economic growth, secure women's place in the workforce and give every Canadian child the same head start.
It also aims to promote gender equality and increase labour force participation rates of women, adding approximately 240,000 workers in today's terms, thereby driving an increase in real per capita GDP by as much as 1.2 per cent.
“After 50 years of talking about it and fighting for it, we’re finally going to get it done,” Freeland told reporters as she unveiled the plan in the House of Commons on Monday.
TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
Upcoming games
SUNDAY
Brighton and Hove Albion v Southampton (5.30pm)
Leicester City v Everton (8pm)
MONDAY
Burnley v Newcastle United (midnight)
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5