Federal, provincial and territorial ministers meet to advance shared priorities in early learning and child care, including the development of a multilateral workforce strategy

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers most responsible for early learning and child care gathered* today in Iqaluit to discuss and advance shared priorities in early learning and child care. The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Karina Gould, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and the Honourable Natalie Jameson, Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Education and Early Years and Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

A thriving early learning and child care workforce is critical to ensuring high-quality and inclusive early learning and child care. The ministers discussed that to strengthen the system, the early learning and child care workforce needs improved working conditions and compensation that reflects their professional education, experience and responsibilities. After the ministers reviewed a jointly developed conceptual framework, all ministers agreed to develop a Canada-wide, multilateral workforce strategy for the early learning and child care workforce, recognizing that federal, provincial and territorial governments will have final authority on any implementation actions within their respective jurisdictions. The multilateral workforce strategy will centre on the pillars of recruitment, retention and recognition.

Provinces and territories shared how they have been working to strengthen the workforce by establishing and expanding wage grids and training initiatives and by advancing recruitment, retention and recognition supports. The strategy will be an added tool for all ministers to consider as they continue to work toward their shared goal of providing more families in Canada with access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care, no matter where they live. Additionally, Ontario has committed to taking the lead on establishing a working group on inter-provincial and territorial mobility and foreign credential recognition for the early childhood education workforce to ensure seamless movement of qualified staff across Canada and from around the world.

The ministers marked the collective achievements of the past year, highlighting that the federal government’s $27-billion investment over five years builds on the significant work and ongoing investments that provinces and territories have dedicated to advancing early learning and child care. Federal, provincial and territorial governments are working toward the shared goal of an average $10-a-day early learning and child care, which some provinces and territories have already achieved, while the other provinces and territories have achieved at least a 50% reduction in average fees for regulated early learning and child care.

Ministers acknowledged that creating new early learning and child care spaces for quality learning is essential to ensuring access to child care for families. This is why the federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed to creating approximately 250,000 new child care spaces across the country by March 2026, while simultaneously addressing barriers and supporting the early learning and child care workforce to create an inclusive and high-quality child care system.

Provincial and territorial ministers also shared their experiences and successes in meeting the unique needs of local communities, including Indigenous communities, in their early learning and child care systems. Finally, ministers will continue to meet regularly, share information and best practices, and advance shared priorities. 

*In order to preserve its exclusive jurisdiction over child care and to maintain sole responsibility for the planning, organization, delivery and rollout of early learning and child care services in the province, Quebec participates in the Forum as an observer only, to share best practices. Quebec is therefore not bound by this news release, does not recognize the Canada-wide early learning and child care system and is not involved in any of the associated work. 
Quotes

“We have an opportunity to make our country a global leader in providing access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care. While provinces and territories have made progress on making child care more affordable across Canada, there is more work to do to create new spaces and support the workforce. Early childhood educators are the cornerstone of a strong early learning and child care system and we will continue to work with provinces and territories to provide early childhood educators with the wages, training and development opportunities they need for success.”
– The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“Since we last met, every jurisdiction has been working diligently to strengthen its early years sector through targeted investments in high-quality accessible child care spaces, decreasing fees and increasing supports for the workforce. Collaboration is essential, and through these meetings, federal, provincial and territorial governments have all shown their commitment for coordination, as we build on the excellent work underway across the country. Together, we are striving to give children the best possible start in life and supporting families where and when they need it the most.”
– The Honourable Natalie Jameson, Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Education and Early Years and Minister responsible for the Status of Women

Associated Links

Early Learning and Child Care Bilateral Agreements
Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework

For media enquiries, please contact:

Philippe-Alexandre Langlois
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Karina Gould
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development 
philippealexandre.langlois@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Autumn Tremere
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Education and Early Years, Prince Edward Island
agtremere@gov.pe.ca