Preschool designated space creation

As part of the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (Canada-Wide Agreement), the Government of New Brunswick (GNB) is committed to increasing access to affordable, quality and inclusive early learning and childcare, for New Brunswick families. 

The province is committed to supporting the creation of 3,400 new Designated childcare spaces for children 0-5 years of age prior to school entry, in areas of greatest need, between 2021 and 2026. 

The designation of a New Brunswick early learning centre and home is a recognition given to licensed early learning and childcare facilities that offer services to preschool children aged five and under, through a voluntary application process. The facility commits to providing equitable and affordable access to higher quality, inclusive early learning and childcare services by removing barriers linked to family income, children’s ability and needs, language, and minority settings.

The Department invites applicants who wish to apply for designated spaces for a new licence or to expand designated spaces in an ELCC facility, to take part in an open call for proposals process.  

Once preliminary approval for Designated spaces is received, the applicant must complete the Step 2 Application to Operate an ELCC Facility OR Application for Changes to a Licence if they intend to seek approval for a licence or changes to their existing designated New Brunswick Early Learning facility licence.  

ELCC Home applicants are exempt from the Open Call for Proposals process and may proceed directly to Step 2 Application to Operate an ELCC Facility – Home.

The two (2) step application includes Step 1A and B for preliminary approval for designation and Step 2 for approval.  If you are a potential applicant but are unclear if you fit the criteria, we recommend you submit an expression of interest for designated ELCC spaces.

• Application for a designated facility or increase in designated spaces (PDF)

• Application to operate an ELCC centre 

Early learning and childcare facilities can establish themselves as a designated not-for-profit facility.

Policy 901 - space allocation for designated early learning and childcare facilities establishes the application process, the criteria that must be considered when determining the location, number and type of spaces to be allocated, and the evaluation criteria for the creation of new designated preschool spaces in New Brunswick.  The policy supports the creation of designated spaces in areas of greatest need to better support families participating in the province’s labour force, particularly women seeking to join, or return to, the workforce.  

In accordance with Policy 901, the early learning and childcare preschool designated space allocation grid objectively identifies areas of greatest need to support the direction of public funds to areas with the greatest need for early learning and childcare spaces in the province. Designated facilities have access to subsidies and financial support through GNB programs and services.

The space allocation grid applies only to the creation of designated early learning and childcare spaces in the province and does not limit an operator’s ability to open a new license or to expand an existing early learning and childcare license.

Capital funding is available to successful applicants in the Call for proposals process for the creation of new designated preschool spaces in New Brunswick AND current operators of designated Not-for-Profit ELCC and designated ELCC Homes to expand infant spaces.

There are three Capital Funding Grants available:

1. Designation Start-Up Funding - New Licence ELCC Coordination Grant
2. New Space Creation Implementation Grant
3. Expansion for Infants Spaces Grant – Renovations