Provincial Government Implements New Wage Grid for Early Childhood Educators in Ongoing Commitment to Increase Capacity in Affordable Child Care

  • Education

March 28, 2023

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today announced details of a new wage grid for early childhood educators working in regulated child care centres that are part of the Operating Grant Program.

The wage grid takes effect on April 1, 2023 with a base rate of $25 an hour for Level II early childhood educators who hold a two-year diploma. This is the starting rate for a new graduate. Early childhood educators who continue to further their education and are awarded a higher certification level will be placed at Step One of their new level. Each step on the grid lasts 12 months, and are effective as of January 1, 2023.

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Education, made the announcement today at Gander Academy and was joined by Christine Penney, an early childhood educator and Jason Brown, President and CEO of YMCA-NL.

Additionally, there will be a 10 per cent adjustment for administrator positions, as well as a Labrador Allowance of just over $5,000 to early childhood educators working in regulated child care centres in that region.

Legacy wage rates will be in place for staff whose current earnings exceed the proposed wage scale. This will ensure no one will earn less than they are currently.

A one-time payment will be made directly to early childhood educators to cover the period from January 1 to March 31, 2023.

Full details on the wage grid can be found here.

Increasing the number of early childhood educators working in the sector continues to be a priority. In addition to the new wage grid, the province has introduced a number of initiatives, including:

  • Providing funding to the College of the North Atlantic, Keyin College and Academy Canada to expand the number of seats they can offer in early learning programs. These agreements will see an increase of over 700 seats at the end of this year;
  • Enhancing grants and bursaries for early childhood education students and graduates;
  • Conducting in-person information sessions across the province to attract more individuals to the profession;
  • Providing a recognition bonus for early childhood educators; and
  • Increasing funding for operators, including family homes.

The Provincial Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase available child care spaces. Further information may be found in the backgrounder below.

Quotes
“We recognize the important work and impact early childhood educators have on our children, and the need to create more affordable child care spaces across Newfoundland and Labrador. Creating solutions for an affordable and accessible child care system is one of our government’s priorities. An important factor in that work is recognizing the valuable contributions of early childhood educators. The new wage grid will provide incentive for prospective students to choose early childhood education as their career. Our close work with child care centre operators will continue as we create a bright future for everyone.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Early childhood educators are at the heart of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system. Implementing a new wage grid for early childhood educators is a meaningful step in valuing their essential work. Newfoundland and Labrador has made tremendous progress in making access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive regulated child care a reality across the province, and I look forward to continuing this work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as we expand our national child care system to help meet the needs of families and children.”
Honourable Karina Gould
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Government of Canada

“Early childhood educators are among our children’s first teachers. The new wage grid reflects their experience and education and will act as a catalyst to encourage more people to entire the sector. This is one of a number of steps we are taking to help create additional early learning spaces. We know this will take time, but we are confident the solutions are before us and we will create a child care system that will benefit children and families around the province.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Education

“The Early Childhood Educator Wage Grid is a great starting point in developing an education and career pathway where early childhood educators have the opportunity to advance within their profession.  The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador looks forward to seeing the development of future workforce strategies as the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement progresses.”
Skye Crawford Taylor
Executive Director
Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Learn more
Early Learning and Child Care, Department of Education

Budget 2021: A Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan

Toward $10-a-Day: Early Learning and Child Care

$10 a day child care for families in Newfoundland and Labrador

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BACKGROUNDER

The province has worked to create capacity in the early learning sector by undertaking the following:

  • Expanding funding under the Child Care Capacity Initiative Program from $5,000 to $7,000 per created space for not-for-profit groups and municipalities;
  • Expanding existing funding under the Family Home Child Care Capacity Initiative from $7,500 to up to $15,000;
  • Expanding funding to Family and Child Care Connections to increase capacity for regulated child care providers caring for children in their own homes in all regions of the province;
  • Introducing Pre-Kindergarten programs in schools, which opens spaces for younger children in regulated child care services;
  • Publishing information on the benefits of becoming regulated; and
  • Conducting in-person public information sessions across the province to promote space creation.

Additionally, the Department of Education will be undertaking a review of the Operating Grant Program to ensure capacity is maximized.

2023 03 28 10:00 am