In an effort to recruit and retain more early childhood educators, federal Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu and Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today there would be a wage increase for ECE.
According to a joint release from the provincial and federal governments, the funding for this wage increase comes from the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. They said the increase will be applied to all ECEs and is the biggest increase in Manitoba history.
“Early childhood educators are the foundation of a humming and productive economy,” said Schmidt. “Because of their work, parents across Manitoba can go to school or build careers that power our province. They are more than child minders, they are shaping our kids’ early development foundations, so they can go on to be happy, healthy and fulfilled Manitobans. With this historic wage increase we are valuing the role ECEs play in our province. We are investing in Manitoba’s future.”
In their release, the two governments said the first “wage grid” will focus on frontline ECE wages for an increase of up to $5 per hour. The wage increase will be retroactive to April 1.
“Our government understands the importance of a strong child-care sector here in Manitoba and the many connections it has strengthening our economy right across our great province,” said Schmidt. “Whether it is here in Winnipeg, rural or northern Manitoba, our government is investing in the child care Manitoba families rely on. Investing in wages is essential to our recruitment and retention strategy as we continue to expand and build new child-care facilities in our province.”
The release also said the two governments will provide an additional $60.4 million ($56.2 million from the federal government, $4.2 million from the provincial government) to licensed and funded child-care facilities to help with the wage increases.
