Budget 2025 will increase teacher allocations, expand access to child care, and provide accessible post- secondary education and job training opportunities.

Together, these efforts will help to create a prosperous future for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Early Learning and Child Care

At $10-a-day, regulated child care in Newfoundland and Labrador is more affordable for thousands of families. We are firm in our commitment to create more child care spaces. Budget 2025 includes:

• $110 million to support the Operating Grant Program and the $10-a-day initiative.
• $3.9 million for projects to increase the number of child care spaces.
• $1.7 million for bursaries and grants for students to become an early childhood educator.

K-12 Education

Our government is focused on increasing teacher allocations and providing appropriate technology to ensure students have the supports they need in the classroom. Budget 2025 includes:

• $20 million increase to the Teaching Services budget, which adds more than 400 educators and learning assistants to the classroom. This will grow to $44 million next year.
• $24 million for the continued expansion of school food programming to all Pre-kindergarten and K-9 schools, bringing the total investment to $42 million.
• $5 million for technology devices and infrastructure in schools. This will increase to $10 million annually next year.
• Continuation of $1.4 million increase for the equivalent of 50 full-time student assistant positions.
• $850,000 to provide targeted recruitment and retention initiatives for positions in historically hard-to-fill rural, remote and isolated areas.
• $70.5 million for school infrastructure projects, including:
  • New schools in Paradise, Kenmount Terrace, Cartwright, and Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s;
  • Ongoing extension and redevelopment of Dorset Collegiate in Pilley’s Island;
  • Redevelopment of École Rocher-Du-Nord; and,
  • Planning for L’École Boréale in Happy Valley- Goose Bay, Pasadena Elementary in Pasadena, and schools in St. John’s.

Post-Secondary Education

Budget 2025 continues to strongly support post- secondary education, skills development and the skilled trades.

This year, more than $400 million will be invested in Memorial University. This includes:

• $312 million for its core operating grant:
  • $13.7 million offset to support the university’s budget.
  • $7.8 million for the Campus Renewal Fee, which will save a full-time undergraduate student $500 a year.
  • $4.7 million for the Faculty of Nursing’s satellite sites.
  • $2 million for the Doctor of Psychology program.
• More than $78 million for the Faculty of Medicine, which includes the annual operating grant, as well as close to $7 million for more undergraduate seats, clerkships, and expansion of internal medicine.
• $70 million over the next eight years to help with deferred maintenance of university infrastructure.

More investment in College of the North Atlantic to include:

• $82 million for its operating grant, which reflects an $11 million increase.
• $3.1 million for an electric boiler at College of the North Atlantic’s Prince Philip Drive Campus.

Student Financial Support

Supported by a $33.5 million investment, we are maintaining one of Canada’s strongest student aid programs and most accessible post-secondary education systems. With this investment, upon graduation, eligible students can have 100 per cent of their provincial loans forgiven under the Newfoundland and Labrador Debt Reduction Grant Program.

Atlantic Veterinary College

Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, we are doubling the number of subsidized seats for Newfoundland and Labrador students at the Atlantic Veterinary College.

Workforce Development

We are building a brighter future for Newfoundland and Labrador, investing in skills development, creating opportunities, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Budget 2025 includes:

• Nearly $160 million for workforce development initiatives.
• Reducing financial barriers to obtain journeyperson certification by eliminating fees for apprentices and trade qualifiers. This decision will save apprentices money and help increase the number of provincial journeypersons, with each journeyperson capable of mentoring two apprentices.

Community-Based Organizations

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, organizations large and small, local and widespread, help make our province a more vibrant and promising place. Budget 2025 includes:

• More than $100 million in grants for community- based organizations as they are valuable contributors to the social and economic well-being of communities.
• $13.5 million to support the operation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Library system. This reflects a $500,000 increase.
• $10 million to Family Resource Centre hubs and satellite locations.
• $300,000 for select Family Resource Centres to improve food security and improve health and well-being among families they work with.