Major announcement: Manitoba government increases wages for ELCC workforce

In a historic announcement at the Manitoba Child Care Association’s annual provincial early learning and child care conference on Friday, May 23, 2025, Manitoba’s Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister, Tracy Schmidt announced a significant increase to the 2025-2026 wage targets for the ELCC workforce with funding coming from the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. 

According to the government’s news release, this will bring about the largest increase to all ECE and frontline staff wages in the province’s history, upping the wages by about $5 an hour depending on the certification level and child care centre size. 

Jodie Kehl, Executive Director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, applauded the announcement, and said it was greeted by cheers and tears of gratitude by early childhood educators assembled at the Association’s annual conference.

“Today’s announcement and funding of the provincial wage grid and benefits addresses a long-advocated-for action and solution. The work and co-operation between the federal government and the province of Manitoba has made this a reality,” said Kehl. 

The wage increases are funded in large part through the Government of Canada’s transfer payments to the province of Mantioba under the federal Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program. In addition to receiving funds to cover the salary increases, licensed child care operators will receive a 2 per cent increase to their base operating grants. The increased funding for wages and operation will be retroactive to April 1, 2025.