The Town of Minto has shown their support on the provincial government pay increase and benefits for early childhood educators and child care staff working for licensed providers to help fight the labour shortage.
Ontario has committed to a minimum wage of $18/hour for registered ECE’s with a $1 increase per year until reaching $25 an hour.
Benefits are also being enhanced for staff in licensed child care centres compared to those by schools.
Minto’s Economic and Community Development Director Belinda Wick-Graham says this move, has been on the radar for many economic development groups and they are pushing for a faster increase.
“They’re advocating to get that increase sooner than later because there is a huge workforce shortage. We need to get people back to work and a big part of that is child care.” said Graham.
The change will not impact private child care workers who don’t receive any government funding.