See text below.
EXCERPTS
Manitoba unveiled the first steps of its new child care program yesterday, promising to spend over $14 million to improve wages and training programs for early childhood educators.
The money is part of the $26 million coming to Manitoba under the new national child care program, signed between the province and Ottawa in May.
"We hope people who are considering leaving will realize now to be an early childhood educator is to be paid competitively," said Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick. "Early childhood educators are professionals in their own rights and should be paid and respected accordingly," she said.
There will also be $2.15 million spent to train early childhood educators. That money includes funding for programs at Red River College, University College of the North and Assiniboine Community College, $581,300 to pay substitute workers to step in to allow regular staff to attend training programs, and $200,000 in tuition support for students in early childhood education programs.
There is also $750,000 for a recruitment fund to bring qualified staff back into the field.
"We know the foundation of quality child care systems are trained staff," said Melnick. "Our number one priority with the federal money will be to improve wages and benefits for early childhood educators in Manitoba."
The federal deal will bring $176 million to Manitoba for child care over the next five years. In addition to wages and benefits Melnick has pledged to use the money to add 5,000 more child care spaces, and to expand nursery schools.
Child care workers were elated yesterday, noting the low wages for early childhood educators has meant recruiting and retaining quality staff has been next to impossible.
"I can't even believe these numbers you're talking about," said Thelma Randall, director of the Cornish Child Care Centre in West Broadway, where Melnick made the announcement.
Melanie D'Souza, president-elect of the Manitoba Child Care Association, said everyone in the field will be cheering this news.
She noted at least 200 to 300 more workers are needed right now.
Low wages have been cited numerous times by child care advocates as a reason people are leaving the field in droves. It's estimated 60 per cent of trained child care workers leave the field within five years because of poor wages.
There are 4,911 child care workers in the province.
- reprinted from the Winnipeg Free Press