Salaries up for P.E.I. early childhood educators and fees down for parents

Teachers in designated early years centres across P.E.I. received salary increases this fall, and parents are paying less, Federal Families Minister Karina Gould announced Friday.

Fees at those centresdropped to $20 per child per day, part of an agreement between the province and Ottawa that will see fees fall to $10 by the end of 2024. Fees were set at $25 on Jan. 1 of this year.

"We often hear from families that they're making decisions about whether they go back to work or not based on whether they can afford child care," said Gould.

"Reducing these fees is hugely important for families when it comes to affordability at a time of high inflation."

Gould made the announcement alongside Island MPs and provincial Lifelong Learning Minister Natalie Jameson at Brilliant Me in Montague. Jameson announced that Brilliant Me is one of seven newly designated early years centres on the Island.

Gould and Jameson also announced highersalaries for teachers in designated centres went up this fall, with the amounts varying depending on their position and qualifications.

• Cooks and ECE Level 1: $0.75/hour.
• ECE Level 2: $1.50/hour.
• ECE Level 3 and directors: $3/hour.

Those increases came into effect Oct. 1.

Wage increases are an important part of a multi-year plan to support the sector and encourage people to pursue a career in early childhood education, said Gould.

"We can't grow the spaces and the sector if we don't have a qualified, well-paid, caring staff to do the work," she said.

The other newly designated early years centres are:

• All Kids Learning Centre.
• Atlantic Childcare Centre.
• Campus Kids Childcare Centre Inc.
• Little Explorers.
• Playtime Daycare Centre.
• Small Steps Early Learning Centre.

"It's just so exciting to think that we continue to grow the system here on Prince Edward Island in terms of accessibility, affordability, the quality of the system," said Jameson.

Jameson said she is very pleased to improve child-care services, while at the same time reducing the cost.