Latest News & Stories

Excerpt: "The new dual-track French and English K-8 school will be located on Castlebrook Drive between Landover Drive and Skyline Drive. It will also include 74 infant and preschool child-care spaces. The Pembina Trails School Division has seen a 17 per cent growth in students since 2019 and this school will be designed with potential future expansion in mind to accommodate enrolment growth into the coming years, said the minister."

Gordon Cleveland, an economist and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, has dedicated over 30 years to researching the economics of early childhood education, with a focus on policy design. A widely published expert, he joined us to share his perspective on Ontario's new funding formula.

The graph presents Early Childhood Educator (ECE) earnings across Canada, comparing them to provincial and territorial poverty thresholds using the Market Basket Measure. The data reveals significant wage disparities, with ECE salaries falling below the living wage in most regions and, in some cases, barely exceeding poverty thresholds.

- Poverty Threshold Comparison: In many provinces and territories, ECE wages hover near or just above the poverty line, highlighting the financial instability of the profession.
- Living Wage Gap: Only a handful of jurisdictions—with stronger wage policies—offer ECE salaries that meet or exceed the local living wage. In most areas, ECEs struggle to afford basic necessities despite their essential role in early learning.
- Regional Variations: Provinces with higher government investment in child care and workforce compensation tend to have narrower wage gaps, while others lag behind, exacerbating challenges in recruitment and retention.

This data reinforces the urgent need for wage grids, increased public investment, and stronger workforce policies to ensure fair compensation for ECEs and enhance workforce stability.

Meet our 2024 APHD Recognition Award Winners

Marie-Paule Lory, directrice intérimaire du CREFO, incarne un parcours académique riche en expériences et en réflexions sur l'enseignement des langues.

Presented by Dr. Emis Akbari, Executive Director, Atkinson Centre, OISE/University of Toronto, to the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) sector, Red River College, Winnipeg Manitoba, February 7, 2025

Summary

Presented by Dr. Emis Akbari, Executive Director, Atkinson Centre, OISE/University of Toronto, to the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) sector, Red River College, Winnipeg Manitoba, February 7, 2025

Summary

Excerpt: "This budget proposes $10.5 million to make child care more affordable, helping parents participate more fully in the formal labour force. The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to advocate to the federal government to increase compensation levels of early child care staff to align with education assistants in the K-12 system."

Excerpt: "Children and families in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and East Hants will have more options and improved access to child care with up to 286 new spaces. Through Nova Scotia’s child-care space creation programs, the Province is providing $7.6 million to support six child-care operators to add the spots. “These investments are opening more access to affordable child care to help families in our fastest growing regions,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “By investing in child care, we invest in families to participate in the workforce and grow our economy.”"

e-News