News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "Canada-wide early learning and child care (CWELCC) transfer payments are expected to increase from
$7.9 billion in 2025-26 to $8.1 billion in 2030-31. This includes the final two years of funding for the Early
Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund which provided $625 million over four years (in effect from
2023-24 to 2026-27) and renewal of the CWELCC agreements starting in 2026-27."

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its plan to protect Ontario and ensure students have access to modern classrooms by investing $1.6 billion in 79 school construction projects across Ontario. The investments will support growing communities by creating over 29,000 new student spaces and over 1,900 licensed child care spaces so students have the modern learning spaces they need to succeed in their studies and prepare for in-demand careers."

Excerpt: "The wage grid is a key pillar of Higher Wages, Good Jobs, More Child Care – Manitoba’s Early Learning and Child Care Workforce Strategy. 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 minister noted. The base operating increase provides facilities with additional resources to support day-to-day operations alongside staff compensation. The wage increase applies to ECEs, child-care assistants (CCAs) and home-based providers working in licensed and funded child-care facilities and homes. With Manitoba’s largest historic wage increase last spring, the minister added that ECEs could see a wage increase of up to $7.00 an hour retroactive to April 2024, depending on their certification level and the size of the child-care facility. The new wage grid came into effect on April 1."

Highlights include: $10/day childcare - $81.6 million; PEI School Food program - $8.3 million; Free K-9 school supplies - $985,000; Free universal pre-k - $1.6 million; Enhanced PEI Child Benefit - $4.5 million; 400 new early centre spaces - $4.2 million.

Excerpt: "Today, the Ontario government introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, to strengthen school board oversight and accountability and ensure more consistent learning experiences for students to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. The proposed changes would move Ontario toward a more accountable, consistent and modern model of high-quality education that better serves students, families and educators across the province."

Excerpt: "The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive provides eligible Early Childhood Educators (ECE) with a grant of $5,000 to return to work full-time in a Manitoba licensed non-profit early learning and child care centre or licensed home. The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive supports Manitoba non-profit child care facilities in recruiting passionate and skilled ECEs, incentivizing individuals that have left Manitoba’s licensed early learning and child care sector to return to full-time work. Funding for The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive is provided under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide ELCC Agreement. "

Excerpt: "If passed, all 14 public universities in Ontario that offer a teacher education program, along with three private universities, would transition to the new one-year model, with the first cohort starting in May 2027. The one-year model would prioritize practical, in-classroom learning by establishing a minimum practicum length, to be determined through consultation with the sector, so students graduate with the hands-on learning they need to thrive in the classroom. If passed, the government would work with the Ontario College of Teachers and postsecondary partners to implement the new program model while minimizing disruption for students and institutions. The legislation would also enable the government to explore opportunities to recognize relevant prior learning and work experience for individuals pursuing a teaching career, including early childhood educator diplomas or youth work experience."

Excerpt: "The Province is proposing a new legislation that will make it easier for local elected officials to take parental leave when they become a parent. The changes will support gender equity and help more people with caregiving responsibilities participate in local governments."

Excerpt: "The government is continuing to provide support to growing communities by increasing modern learning spaces for students to drive student success. This is why Ontario is investing about $30 billion over the next 10 years, including over $22 billion in capital grants, to support new and redeveloped schools and child care projects. These investments will help students succeed in their studies and prepare them for the future."

Excerpt: "Early childhood educators (ECEs) play a big role in giving Manitoba kids a good start, and they deserve wages that match their expertise and show how much we value them. Our historic $5/hr wage grid increase for ECEs last year is helping recruit and retain workers in this priority sector. And this year, wages will increase for ECEs by two per cent. From March 2023 to February 2026, the sector has grown by 40 per cent with 1,118 more ECEs working in Manitoba’s licensed childcare sector. In addition to the wage increase, we are expanding the successful Recruit-Back Incentive of $5,000 to encourage workers to return to full-time work in the licensed sector. More than 800 ECEs have received this incentive so far and we are expanding it to bring even more back."

Excerpt: "In spring 2026, the Educational Assistant Internship Program will be expanded to give school boards across Alberta greater access to trained educational assistants, helping ease staffing pressures and better support students in increasingly complex classrooms. Since 2023, Alberta’s government has provided this program with more than $2 million, supporting more than 1,280 educational assistants. Educational assistants in the program receive online learning, in-class practical experience, ongoing coaching, mentoring and access to a community of practice. The flexible design allows school authorities to adapt the program to local needs."

Excerpt: "The Yukon’s education system needs to focus on the interests of students. Budget 2026 will provide the resources to equip students for the future, making sure the education system serves all Yukon communities and provides appropriate supports for students, educators and families… $1.9 million in additional support for universal child care, keeping care affordable for families… $2.8 million to increase physical accessibility of existing child care spaces and help organizations create new ones in underserved communities."