Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early learning and child care met in Charlottetown on Thursday to advance a draft workforce strategy aimed at stabilizing and supporting early childhood educators across Canada.
Co-chaired by federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds and Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Education and Early Years Rob Lantz, the ministers reviewed the jointly developed Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Workforce Strategy. The strategy focuses on recruitment, retention and recognition of early childhood educators and builds on efforts over the past three years to strengthen the workforce, including wage incentives and benefits.
“It’s important that we all meet, but what’s most important is that we deliver,” Sudds said. “We have a responsibility to ensure early childhood educators have the wages, training and career development opportunities they need and deserve—families are counting on us.”
Lantz highlighted the significance of investing in the sector. “We will ensure this sector’s workforce is valued appropriately and provided the opportunities they need to meet their profession’s high standards,” he said.
The ministers discussed the long-term sustainability and adequate funding of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system, emphasizing the need for collaborative work among all levels of government. They noted that families of over 750,000 children across Canada are already benefiting from affordable, high-quality child care.
Looking ahead, the ministers agreed to continue collaborating on data collection and to recognize the key role of early childhood educators in providing high-quality child care. Manitoba will assume the role of co-chair for the next meeting of the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum of Ministers Most Responsible for Early Learning and Child Care.
Quebec participated in the forum as an observer, maintaining its exclusive jurisdiction over child care. Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia’s ministers were not in attendance; their officials participated as observers only.
