The Federal Government is investing $5.4 million to provide up to a two-dollar-an-hour increase for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) in Saskatchewan.

The investment will assist childcare centres in providing improved wages in the recruitment and retention of ECEs.

This Wage Enhancement Grant will be funded through the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which also supports future ECEs with free post-secondary training, professional development opportunities and many other programs.

Karina Gould, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, said the investment is another way to show support for ECEs.

“Early Childhood Educators are at the very heart of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system,” she said. “The announcement in Saskatchewan is another meaningful step toward ensuring the work of these professional educators is valued throughout their lifelong career.”

Education Minister Dustin Duncan said Early Childhood Educators provide our youngest learners with quality early learning and the building blocks they need to prepare them for school

“This investment helps recognize the hard work these professionals do every day while creating an incentive for new individuals to begin a career as a certified Early Childhood Educator.”

The investment in wage increases will help address the compensation necessities for ECEs. This increase is a step toward developing the wage grid for ECEs, which the Government of Saskatchewan will implement by the end of 2022-23.