More early childhood educators (ECEs) are in the immediate plans for Manitoba and the province, with help from the federal government, has plans to give them a big pay raise.
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt and federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth Anna Gainey announced today there will be increased wages and operating funding for child-care facilities. This wage grid increase builds on previous rounds of wage enhancements aimed at addressing longstanding compensation gaps in the early learning and child-care sector.
“The Manitoba government is delivering more high-quality child care for families across the province for children up to age 12,” said Schmidt. “To support new spaces, we’re staffing up, with nearly 1,200 more ECEs working in the sector, supported by higher wages and good jobs so we can keep growing our child-care system.”
In a release, the province said this wage increase applies to ECEs, child-care assistants (CCAs) and home-based providers working in licensed and funded child-care facilities and homes. It stacks on top of last spring’s increase to provide up to $7 per hour more since 2024. The new wage grid came into effect on April 1.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the commitment from the governments of Canada and Manitoba to supporting ECEs,” said Jodie Kehl, executive director, the Manitoba Child Care Association. “Fair and competitive compensation is essential to stabilizing the workforce, strengthening retention and sustaining high-quality early learning and child care. These investments also position Manitoba to expand child-care spaces and improve access for families.”
The release went on to say licensed and funded childcare facilities would see a two percent wage grid funding increase (totaling $14.3 million). Base operating grants will also increase by one per cent for an increase of $4.7 million
The release also noted the province is investing an additional $14.4 million for 2026-27 and 2027-28 to sustain 327 expanded ECE training seats at Assiniboine College, RRC Polytech, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Université de Saint-Boniface and University College of the North.
