Educators Matter Project update: Child Care Now convenes national symposium

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Last week, Child Care Now’s “Educators Matter: Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC)” project held a two-day national symposium to continue the work of developing proposals to all levels of government on how to strengthen the early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce. Participants included members of the National ELCC Workforce Policy Table, representatives of the Canadian Child Care Federation, policy researchers, advocates, and early childhood educators from across the country.

Drawing on the three-year project objectives and approach, and responding to the current context of ELCC system building under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, the symposium addressed key questions such as: 

  • What workforce strategies are needed to build a high quality early learning and child care (ELCC) system in Canada?
  • What approaches to compensation and working conditions can improve the recruitment and retention of qualified early childhood educators?
  • What formal educational qualifications and professional development is needed to ensure high quality programs? 
  • What strategies, including immigration, are needed to expand the ELCC workforce? 
  • What steps can the sector and advocates take to advance workforce policy change?

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families joined on the first day of the symposium to provide a brief update on the federal government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand CWELCC and to reiterate her and the government’s commitment to addressing the workforce challenges. 

Information about the Educators Matter project including members of the National ELCC Workforce Policy Table, project objectives and approach can be found on the project webpage. Information and materials about the symposium will be shared widely on the website. Updated resources, new policy recommendations, policy briefs, reports, and opportunities for engagement will be available before the project’s conclusion in March 2026.