Budget 2001
Aboriginal Children

December 10, 2001

A good start is essential to a child’s well-being and success in life. The strength of our society will depend on the investments we make today, as a nation, in families and children.

In his Reply to the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister pledged that our government would make special efforts to provide young Aboriginal Canadians with the basic tools they need to take greater advantage of the opportunities Canada has to offer.

Budget 2001 follows through on that commitment with $185 million in new investments to improve and expand programs that benefit Aboriginal children.

Early Childhood Development

In September 2000, the Prime Minister reached an agreement with the provinces and territories for a $2.2 billion federal investment over five years in early childhood development. Most provinces and territories have announced how they would use the new federal funding.

To complement this initiative, Budget 2001 builds on federal programs that support early childhood development, with a particular focus on First Nations children on reserves.

Over the next two years, $100 million will be provided to enhance programs such as child care and head start.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Budget 2001 invests $25 million over two years – a tenfold increase – in support of our commitment to significantly reduce the number of Aboriginal newborns affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

This money will serve to intensify efforts on reserves to reduce both the incidence and the effects of this syndrome.

Special Education

Budget 2001 increases by $60 million the funding in support of children living on reserve who have special needs at school because of either physical, emotional or developmental barriers to learning.