Educators at Mother Nature's preschool helping kids with everyday learning. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Gates Guarin

‘What we do matters’: early childhood educators receiving wage top-up and one-time payment

Dec 2, 2022 | 4:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The provincial government announced yesterday that early childhood educators will be receiving a one-time payment as well as a wage top-up, a move the government says is critical to providing high-quality child care.

In a statement, Mickey Amery, minister for children’s services, says “the Government of Alberta supports parental choice in childcare and the workers who help provide it. 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.”

The news has been well-received among early childhood educators in the city. Jennifer Paul, director and co-owner of Mother Nature’s Preschool, saying she is glad she and her staff are getting the recognition they deserve.

“They’re just happy to be acknowledged that, ‘hey what we do matters,’ and it’s been a lot of years since we’ve felt that recognition from the government,” Paul says. “So it’s definitely a step in the right direction towards building a cohesive system for early learning child care in the province.”

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According to the ministry of children’s services, all employed early childhood educators who averaged more than 30 hours of work per week are eligible for a one-time payment of $900. Those averaging less than 30 hours are able to receive $450. The wage top-up will increase as of Jan. 1 by up to $2 an hour.

Paul says the money will go a long way for educators who may be struggling to make ends meet.

“Many educators, they have to work two jobs,” Paul says. “If they’re single, they have to work two, three jobs just to make rent. That’s not OK for a professional. So this will help them be able to stay in the field they love without having to work multiple jobs, and it’s just that value, feeling valued. It will boost morale, which has been sadly lacking in this field for many years. So I think it’s just good news all around for all of us.”

The one-time payment and top-up are from an investment from both the province and the federal government of over $174 million through to the end of 2026.