Ontario's Child Care Ambitions Clash With Educator Wage Freeze

Early childhood educators (ECEs) protested at Queen's Park Wednesday following a Ministry of Education memo released Oct. 30 that revealed a wage floor freeze. As first reported by CBC Toronto, the memo shows that the expected annual $1-per-hour raise for workers will not be granted in 2027.

The wage floor currently stands at $25.86. Amber Straker, executive director of the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario, told CBC Toronto that without these increases, ECEs face an effective wage cut during an affordability crisis. Carolyn Ferns, policy co-ordinator at Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, described the freeze as "heartless and foolish," noting it represents a direct cut for the lowest-paid workers. Advocates are calling for the province to restore pay increases and implement a wage grid similar to those in Manitoba and Quebec.

The controversy follows a four-year extension of the national child-care plan between the province and the federal government. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu noted that a nearly $12 billion funding envelope over four years is intended to support the expansion of child-care spaces at an average daily cost of $19. While the federal goal is to cap child care at $10 a day, Ontario has committed to maintaining its current fees—averaging $19 and capped at $22—until June 30, 2027.

Education Minister Paul Calandra told reporters that while more work is needed, the province has increased available spaces to support economic participation. Calandra noted that as of September, the province had created nearly 60,000 affordable spaces, falling short of a federal target of 86,000. He attributed these challenges to funding gaps and policies predating the current government's 2018 takeover.