April 21, 2026
Child care advocates in Newfoundland and Labrador are concerned that Government will use a “priority setting” exercise to delay action on compensation for early childhood educators (ECEs).
The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development recently told the House of Assembly that a new ECE Steering Committee will conduct a priority setting exercise where they will ask ECEs to choose the “top issue” from a list that includes pension, wages, and paid sick leave.
“ECEs should not be asked to pick just one of these items,” said Gail Brinston, ECE, of Child Care Now NL. “A total compensation package for ECEs is the top priority.”
Several tax payer funded government studies of Newfoundland and Labrador’s ECE workforce going back to 2007 have highlighted pension, wages, and paid sick leave as crucial to ECE recruitment and retention.
“The Minister says a pension for ECEs is part of the Government’s four year plan, but without action now we risk four more years of ECE attrition and stalled child care expansion,” said Kim Dreaddy of Child Care Now NL.
Child Care Now NL is calling for a total compensation package for ECEs now – one that includes fair and equitable wages, a pension program, enhanced medical benefits, and paid sick leave. Learn more about Child Care Now NL here.