Employment Minister Designated for Child Care Act

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published Order Designating the Minister of Employment and Social Development To Be the Minister for the Purposes of the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act: SI/2025-42. The order repeals an earlier order and names the Minister of Employment and Social Development as the minister responsible for the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act. The decision was made on March 14, 2025 and published on March 26, 2025.

What it does#

• Repeals the previous Order in Council P.C. 2024-345 (issued April 12, 2024).
• Designates the Minister of Employment and Social Development to be the minister for the purposes of the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act.
• The order is recorded as P.C. 2025-422 dated March 14, 2025 and published in the Canada Gazette on March 26, 2025.

Who's affected#

• Federal officials and departments that administer or deal with the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act.
• Provincial and territorial governments, as they interact with the federal minister on early learning and child care matters.
• Service providers and other stakeholders who deal directly with the federal government under that Act.
• Families and users of federally supported early learning and child care programs may notice changes only to the point of contact or accountability at the federal level.

If it is unclear whether this designation will change any specific program rules or funding, the order itself does not say so.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies which federal minister is officially responsible for the Act. That affects who signs agreements, answers questions, and represents the federal government on early learning and child care matters.
• The order is mainly administrative. It does not, by itself, change program details, funding levels, or eligibility rules.