One-time payment, wage-top up coming to Alberta's early childhood educators
Early childhood educators (ECEs) in Alberta will receive a one-time payment and a wage top-up in an effort to recruit and retain staff.
The province says ECEs are crucial to the Alberta economy so parents have peace of mind while they work.
Existing wage top-ups for all paid hours will increase as of Jan. 1, 2023 by up to $2 per hour.
“The Government of Alberta supports parental choice in childcare and the workers who help provide it,” said Mickey Amery, minister of children’s services. “This announcement will help retain staff who are currently caring for our children, and attract new workers in child care. Because every dollar matters, this one-time payment will provide affordability relief for these hardworking Albertans heading into Christmas and the new year.”
ECEs who worked an average of 30 hours and up per week and continue to work in December will also be eligible to receive a one-time payment of $900.
Those working fewer than 30 hours per week will receive a $450 payment.
The payments will come from an investment of about $13.3 million in federal funding.
The province says it will also invest $2.72 million in provincial funding for the same one-time payments for certified ECEs working in out-of-school care programs.
Wage top-ups for ECEs will come from an investment of $165 million in federal funding, while top-ups for ECEs in out-of-school programs will be funded by the province at a cost of about $22.4 million.
“We could not build our Canada-wide early learning and child-care system without the dedicated workforce of early childhood educators,” said Karina Gould, federal minister of families, children and social development. “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting early childhood educators and the announcement in Alberta, including significant federal funding, is an essential step in ensuring the work of these professional educators is valued.”
In an effort to attract new ECEs, the provincial and federal governments have doubled the enrolment capacity for the free Level 1 child care orientation course and made the course available to anyone in Alberta, not just those currently working in child care.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.