The federal and Manitoba governments have announced an increase in funding for the wages of child-care professionals within the province’s licensed child-care facilities.
The announcement was made by Jenna Sudds, the federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and Nello Altomare, Manitoba’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning.
Minister Sudds emphasized the importance of child-care workers in the development of Canada’s youth.
“The work educators do is vital in shaping the future of our youngest citizens.” She praised the provincial efforts to enhance wage supports which “ensure child care remains a rewarding career.”
According to the announcement, starting July 1, 2024, funding for wages will rise by 2.75%, which translates into an additional $10.9 million — $10.3 million from the federal government and $600,000 from Manitoba. This increase is designed to help facilities meet the recommended wage levels set by Manitoba’s early learning and child-care wage grid.
Minister Altomare highlighted that doubling the operating grant funding from last year is a strategic move to “offer fair, consistent and competitive wages” across child-care facilities. He noted that this is crucial for enhancing recruitment and retention within the sector, supporting Manitoba’s goal to expand child-care services by 23,000 spaces by 2026.
In addition to wage support, the base operating grants for all licensed and provincially funded child-care facilities in Manitoba will also see a five percent increase from April 1, providing an extra $8.97 million. This boost, contributed by both governments, will assist with other operational costs such as rent, programming, and food expenses.
This funding enhancement is part of the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, signed in August 2021. The five-year agreement aims to build a nationwide early learning and child-care system, with Manitoba receiving $1.2 billion in federal funds to lower the average parent fees to $10-a-day and expand access to quality child-care services.
Furthermore, under this agreement, Manitoba is undertaking a comprehensive review of the wage and benefits framework for its early learning and child-care workforce, aiming to improve sector recruitment and retention. The review, which includes consultations with stakeholders, is slated for completion in 2025, according to Minister Altomare.