Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The new Higher Wages, Good Jobs, More Child Care strategy lays out a roadmap to recruit and support the child-care workforce in Manitoba. Organized around three pillars – recruitment, retention and recognition – the strategy will implement a number of initiatives to achieve its workforce goals, the minister noted. “Having access to affordable, high-quality child care has been life-changing for our family,” said Quinn Suderman, a Winnipeg parent of two. “It’s not just about having a spot, it’s knowing our children are in a safe, nurturing environment with educators who truly care. It gives us peace of mind and the flexibility to work and support our family.” A key part of the strategy, the early childhood educators (ECE) recruit-back incentive has just been launched with the goal of recruiting child-care professionals who have left the field. The initiative provides a $5,000 incentive for ECE II and IIIs who have not worked in a Manitoba licensed child-care centre or licensed home-based child-care setting for at least two consecutive years to return to full-time employment in a Manitoba licensed and non-profit child-care facility. This strategy complements a wage increase for child-care professionals introduced in May 2025, which saw front-line ECE wages increase by up to $5 an hour."

• Backgrounder: Spaces opened since Oct. 1, 2023

Excerpt: "This winter construction will start on four new schools, built by Manitoba workers, with 402 childcare spots in River East, Pembina Trails, Seven Oaks and Brandon. With our updated English Language Arts curriculum and the roll out of our universal early reading screening program, we are making sure kids have the support and tools they need to learn to read. With more than 800 new teachers in our classrooms, 4,200 more childcare spots, and our universal school food program, we are helping more kids learn and graduate. The next step is to reach the students who are falling through the cracks with our new "Reach Out, Reach Up" program that helps schools improve attendance."

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is requiring school boards to establish Student and Family Support Offices, so parents and guardians have a clear, effective way to get help regarding their child’s education and find solutions faster. The offices will act as an additional way to help families get answers on broader community concerns, as well as contentious or complex issues that need to be escalated after speaking with the school. This initiative is one more way the government is delivering on its broader plan to make school boards more accountable and focused on student success with a back-to-basics approach that strengthens student achievement and prepares them for rewarding careers."

Excerpt: "Families in Middle Musquodoboit and area in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) are getting more options and improved access to child care. The Province is investing about $4.5 million in the Splash of Color Children’s Centre to add up to 76 new child-care spaces. This project is part of provincial and federal efforts to expand access to child care, supported through the Canada–Nova Scotia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement."

Excerpt: "Dear Parents and Guardians, I know that child care costs are a top concern for families, and I am writing to provide an important update about what to expect for next year. I am pleased to share that Ontario has successfully negotiated a one-year extension of the federal child care program which was to expire on March 31, 2026. This extension ensures continuity of the program for the coming year, providing much-needed stability for families and keeping fees at their current average of $19 per day, and a maximum of $22 per day, until at least December 31, 2026."

Excerpt: "Classrooms in Alberta continue to grow and are becoming increasingly complex, and immediate action is needed to address these issues in the public education system. To meet these issues head on, the Class Size and Complexity Cabinet Committee has been created. The cabinet committee will help guide government policy and deploy resources to deal with class sizes and classroom complexity."

Excerpt: "The government is continuing to ensure growing communities are provided with modern learning spaces to help students achieve success. As announced in the 2025 Ontario Budget, Ontario is investing over $30 billion over the next 10 years, including approximately $23 billion in capital grants, to build new and redeveloped schools and child care spaces. This includes working closely with school boards to ensure infrastructure investments meet the needs of local communities and deliver value for Ontario taxpayers. This investment includes approximately $2 billion for the 2025–26 school year to repair and maintain schools, which will support safe, healthy, accessible and supportive learning environments. For the 2025–26 school year, 41 new schools and additions have opened, creating over 17,700 student spaces, including five French-language school projects."

Excerpt: "Canada-wide early learning and child care transfer payments are expected to increase from $7.9 billion in 2025-26 to $8.5 billion in 2029-30, reflecting 3 per cent per year growth for four years starting in 2027-28 as announced in 2025. This also includes $625 million over four years, beginning in 2023-24, for the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund."

Excerpt: "The Manitoba government has added 832 teaching positions across the province since October 2023, increasing the number of funded teachers to 13,903 total teachers this fiscal year from 13,071 in 2023-24, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today, adding this major investment is part of a broader commitment to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed."

Excerpt: "Alberta’s government will work with school boards to gather yearly data on class sizes and composition. This information will be used to better understand staffing, student needs and classroom complexity. School boards will be required to submit data on Alberta classrooms by Nov. 24, and by January, this data will be made publicly available and will then be released annually."

Excerpt: "Today, Okanese First Nation is celebrating the grand opening of its newly-constructed Okanese Aboriginal Head Start On-Reserve Building—a vibrant, community-driven space dedicated to nurturing early childhood development and school readiness. This new facility replaces the original learning centre built in 1976, marking a renewed commitment to the community’s youngest members. Designed through meaningful consultation with community members, leaders, and Elders, the building reflects the values and traditions of Okanese First Nation, with a strong emphasis on land-based learning and cultural connection. The centre offers a nurturing environment by bringing together spaces for play, quiet reflection, wellness, and cultural learning, all under one roof."

Excerpt: "This new child care centre will include 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, 100 spaces for children 30 months to school age, and 24 spaces for school-age children. These new spaces will be in addition to more than 500 child care spaces in Columbia Valley and the surrounding area funded through ChildCareBC programs, which help meet the needs of local families."