Educators Matter
Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care
A three-year project (2023–2026) committed to advancing collective knowledge on Canada’s early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce. The project develops policy solutions that address the retention and recruitment crisis and support the implementation of a high quality Canada-wide ELCC system as a whole.
Publications and Briefs
A vision and roadmap for increasing educator qualifications in licensed child care centres
A vision and roadmap for increasing educator qualifications in licensed child care centres puts forward a national vision and roadmap for supporting and elevating the qualifications of the ELCC workforce through policy change. This paper has been developed by the National Early Learning and Child Care Workforce Policy Table as part of the Educators Matter: Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care project.
Aligning immigration and child care workforce strategies for an equitable, sustainable, and high-quality early learning and child care system
This brief synthesizes evidence on the role of immigration in Canada’s ELCC sector and discussions from Child Care Now’s October 2025 National ELCC Workforce Policy Table. It finds that while immigration is alleviating ELCC workforce shortages, barriers and risks exist surrounding the treatment of ELCC workers, training and credentials, immigration processes, policies, and data. It proposes ways to integrate immigration into a long-term vision of a fair and equitable ELCC workforce and high-quality Canada-wide ELCC system.
Employer Pension Plans in Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Sector
This brief is intended to provide a short introduction into the types of pension plans available in Canada, and some examples of their use in the early learning and child care (ELCC) sector. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all pension programs available to the ELCC workforce, or to early childhood educators working in other sectors.
Nova Scotia Pension Plan
This brief is intended to provide a short introduction of the Government of Nova Scotia’s pension plan for early childhood educators (ECEs) and child care staff working in the early learning and child care sector (ELCC). It does not provide details on comprehensive health benefits like medical or dental benefits.
Wages, benefits and pensions: Policy recommendations developed by the National Early Learning and Child Care Workforce Policy Table
The recommendations focus on policies related to determining wages, health and dental benefits and pensions on both a provincial/territorial and federal level. The policy context has been updated as of November 2024. These recommendations are the first in a series to be published by the Workforce Policy Table.
A summary of ELCC workforce policies as of December 2023 under the Canada-wide child care system
The paper surveys the “lay of the land” as of December 31 2023, about two and a half years after the first CWELCC funding agreements were signed and provides an overview of all policies currently in operation.
Events
National Symposium develops proposals on strengthening the early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce
On October 23 and 24, 2025, Child Care Now’s Educators Matter Project held a National Symposium in Ottawa. Participants gathered to continue the work of developing proposals to all levels of government on how to strengthen the early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce.
Webinar: What governments must do to improve the wages, benefits and pensions in the ELCC sector
An overview of the key recommendations, and discussion among educators, ELCC sector community members and the public to share their insights and perspectives through breakout group discussions
Latest
All updates
National ELCC Workforce Policy Table develops vision and roadmap to increase educator qualifications
Governments must put in place strategies to raise the formal education qualifications of those who work in licensed child care centres, says the…
New policy brief on aligning immigration and child care workforce strategies
Child Care Now has released a new policy brief on the role of immigration in Canada’s ELCC sector written by Dr. Yolande Pottie-Sherman…
“Educators Matter: Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care” is a three-year project (2023–2026) committed to advancing collective knowledge on Canada’s early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce. The project develops policy solutions that address the retention and recruitment crisis and support the implementation of a high quality Canada-wide ELCC system as a whole.
Historically, policies concerning the ELCC workforce have unfolded in a patchwork and reactive fashion. Our project creates space for communities to come together, collaborate and engage in deeper discussions about policy planning and implementation in a systematic way. Together, we can strive towards a comprehensive vision for the ELCC system, accompanied by a long-term plan outlining the workforce’s integral role within this vision.
As part of the project, Child Care Now has convened a new National Early Learning and Child Care Workforce Policy Table, bringing together educators, advocates, and policy experts to create evidence-based policy recommendations grounded in research and community knowledge. The National ELCC Workforce Table also provides analyses of workforce policy and programs as Canada’s child care system continues to develop.
The findings of this project are disseminated through policy briefs, research papers, and public education sessions held in partnership with national and provincial organizations and stakeholders. We also support the child care advocacy community to advance these policy solutions through their advocacy actions.
This project spans a three-year period, from 2023 to 2026, which aligns with the first phase of the Canada-wide rollout of $10 a day ELCC programs and the transformation toward a publicly funded system of accessible and equitable ELCC services.
The genesis of “Educators Matter: Workforce Policy for Quality Early Learning and Child Care” project, or “Educators Matter” in short, arose from the need to address the root of the retention and recruitment crisis within Canada’s early learning and child care (ELCC) workforce by bringing together communities and stakeholders to engage in deep, forward thinking about workforce policy. By naming our project “Educators Matter,” Child Care Now acknowledges that early child educators and all of those who work in early learning and child care programs are at the core of a successful expansion of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.
This project is made possible through funding from a private foundation and made in memory of John and Susanne Graham.
The project team brings together a wide range of stakeholders in the ELCC sector to identify measures and actions that governments can take at a policy systems-level to ensure:
- the retention and recruitment of highly qualified early childhood educators,
- ongoing professional development, and
- positive work environments that support safe, culturally inclusive, stimulating, developmentally appropriate, high quality programs.
- Analyzing the current policy landscape
- Convening a National Policy Table that brings together educators, advocates, researchers and policy makers from across Canada to share their experiences, existing policy solutions and advocacy strategies
- Developing new national policy solutions, build consensus on national workforce strategies and increase collaborative, national, advocacy campaigns
- Strengthening government relations and advancing these policies
- Carrying out public education in support of our efforts to convince all levels of government to address the workforce crisis
The National Workforce Policy Table, established in January 2024, meets quarterly to build a collective understanding and develop policy solutions to tackle workforce challenges in the implementation of the CWELCC system.
In March 2026, building from the previous policy recommendations for wages, benefits, and pensions released in November 2024, the policy table met to continue our discussions on workforce qualifications, following focus group consultations. We’re looking forward to sharing a paper with recommendations soon.
The project team continues to monitor workforce policy developments across Canada and collaborates with the Policy Table to build consensus and develop new policy recommendations addressing key priorities identified through this work.
In addition to policy development, we actively support research and advocacy initiatives within the ELCC community and host public webinars to share knowledge and foster deeper engagement across the sector.
Morna Ballantyne
she/herExecutive Director
Now a grandmother, Morna Ballantyne began advocating for more high quality, affordable, inclusive licensed child care when her first child was born. For 40 years, she has worked with others to develop and advance evidence-based public policy options to address systemic barriers to child care access in Canada. She serves as the Executive Director of Child Care Now, Canada’s national child care advocacy association. It brings
together individuals and organizations who seek to participate in the building of a high
quality, publicly‑funded system of ELCC. She has extensive leadership experience and works professionally as a consultant, strategic planner and facilitator. She has significant subject expertise in social policy, labour relations and human resources, human rights, and strategic communications. Morna is a member of the federal National Advisory Council on ELCC and a member of the federal Table on the Care Economy. She served on the previous federal government’s Task Force on Women in the Economy leading up to the 2021 federal budget investment in building the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program. She was also a member of the Expert Panel on ELCC Data and Research.
Rachel Vickerson
she/herPolicy and Project Manager
Rachel Vickerson is a passionate advocate for inclusive ELCC system change, and is proud to work at Child Care Now during such a pivotal time in Canadian child care. To the role of Policy and Project Manager, she brings her experience working and learning with educators through past positions as the Interim Executive Director at the Association for Early Childhood Educators Ontario, Research Officer at the Childcare Resource and Research Unit and Project Officer at the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, coordinating the National Network on Early Learning and Child Care Human Resources Innovation and Decent Work. Rachel holds a Masters in Public Policy degree from the University of Toronto, and is committed to bringing the voices of educators, families and children into the policymaking process.
Marni Flaherty
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Child Care FederationMarni Flaherty is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Child Care Federation. CCCF, supporting an ECE community united for children, is a diverse community of educators, policy makers, and families committed to giving the children of today the headstart they need tomorrow. Marni is the former C.E.O. of Today’s Family Early Learning and Child Care, a child care agency currently serving 6,000 families in Hamilton, Halton, Haldimand Norfolk and Oxford County and employing more than 400 Early Childhood Educators, support staff and licensed home child care providers.
Eric Swanson
Principal, Third Space PlanningEric Swanson is a veteran of public interest non-profits, with 15 years experience in policy, operations and public engagement. Between 2014 and 2021 Eric served as Executive Director of Generation Squeeze, a UBC-based non-profit where he helped develop and advance comprehensive policy frameworks for family and housing affordability at the local, provincial and federal levels. He is currently a Principal of Third Space Planning, an award-winning planning and policy consultancy focused on the intersections of child care, housing, and climate change. Eric has worked extensively with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC and Early Childhood Educators of BC to develop and publish recommendations for strengthening the implementation of $10aDay child care, including in relation to educator compensation, operational funding models, capital expansion, facility design and environmental health.
Christopher Smith
Associate Executive Director, Muttart FoundationChristopher Smith, Ph.D., is the Associate Executive Director for the Muttart Foundation, a private charitable foundation based in Edmonton. He has lead responsibility for the Foundation’s work in the area of ELCC. Christopher is a member of the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care, serves on the Steering Committee for the Community University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families at the University of Alberta, and is a member of the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care. He formerly served as a member of the Expert Panel on ELCC Data and Research, and was the former chair of the Success by 6 Council of Partners for the Alberta Capital Region.
Jane Beach
Independent policy researcherJane Beach is an early childhood education and care (ECEC) research and policy consultant, based in Victoria, British Columbia. Over the past 25 years, Jane’s consulting work has ranged from large-scale national and international studies on various aspects of child care policy to local child care planning and organizational reviews. She has been co-lead for several pan-Canadian initiatives focused on human resources in the ECEC sector, including two ECEC sector studies, the development of a training strategy for the early childhood sector, a study on the various pathways to ECE credentialing across the country, a study of emerging issues in child care, and the You Bet We Still Care! Canada-wide survey of wages and working conditions of staff and employers working in licensed group care. Prior to her work as a policy and research consultant, Jane worked on ECEC in two provincial governments, in municipal government, and in the voluntary and private sectors.
Martha Friendly
Executive Director, Childcare Resources and Research UnitMartha Friendly is the executive director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, which she founded in the 1980s. She has been a policy researcher and advocate for a Canada-wide universal childcare program for more than 40 years with substantial expertise in childcare and family policy, publishing extensively in academic, technical and popular venues. A social science researcher by education, she was a researcher on the US Head Start program in the 1960s. After immigrating to Canada in 1971 and becoming a parent at the York University Co-operative Child Care Centre, childcare became a personal avocation as well as a key feminist issue. Ever since, Martha has been a childcare policy researcher and a persistent activist in the struggle for universal high quality childcare—locally, provincially and Canada-wide. Her two biggest thrills in the last 10 years: becoming a grandmother of twin boys (who were lucky enough to go to excellent public child care in Toronto), and still being part of the Canadian child care movement when the federal government finally began to put in place the childcare system for which we’ve been advocating for 50 years.
Joanne Morris
ChairpersonEarly Childhood Educators Human Resources Council
Province/Territory: NL
Joanne is a former instructor of College of the North Atlantic’s early childhood education program, as well as past chair of the Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, Canadian Child Care Federation, and Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador, and the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for enhancing the lives of children and families in Canada. The Early Childhood Educators Human Resources Council’s mandate to strengthen the early learning and child care workforce ensures that children and their families will be supported. Cherishing her own family is a driving force behind Joanne’s commitment to this work.
Patsy McKinney
Executive DirectorUnder One Sky Friendship Centre Head Start Program
Patsy McKinney is Mi’kmaq from Dalhousie New Brunswick and her family is connected to the Eel River Bar First Nation. She has been the Executive Director of Under One Sky since 2008. Patsy holds a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies. She served as Chair of the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC) for 4 years. Patsy was a part of the Executive Committee of the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) Atlantic Research Centre, UNB and the UAKN National Network Council. She sits on the Board of the National Association of Friendship Centers (NAFC), is a Life Time Member of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC) and is a member of the UNB Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre Council of Elders. In 2019, she was appointed to the Federal Expert Panel on Early Learning and Childcare Data Research. With over 40 years of experience with urban Indigenous organizations, she offers a strong urban Indigenous perspective.
Pascale-Isabelle Pineault
LecturerUniversité de Moncton
Pascale-Isabelle is a lecturer in the Department of Elementary Education and Psychopedagogy at the Université de Moncton and coordinator of early childhood projects in the Faculty of Education. Pascale-Isabelle holds a bachelor’s degree in teaching, another in school and career information, and a master’s degree in education. Her research interests include parental support, relationships between parents and educators, and the training of educators in childcare settings.
Jodie Kehl
Executive Director, Manitoba Child Care AssociationJodie Kehl, involved with the Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA) since 2000, became Executive Director in March 2018. She was the President of MCCA’s Provincial Board of Directors from 2012 to 2014, participated in numerous committees including the Public Policy and Professionalism Committee, and served as the Manitoba representative to the CCCF’s Member Council from 2014 to 2016. She represents the sector on numerous advisory committees including Red River College Polytechnic, the Social Planning Council of Manitoba, and the Minister’s Consultation Table. With 32 years in child care, Jodie has held various frontline and management positions and was Executive Director of a multi-site early learning program in Winnipeg for 17 years. In addition, she worked as a CBA/PLA Advisor for the Province of Manitoba.
Ruth Lindsey-Armstrong
Associate DeanHealth and Community Services, Red River College Polytech
Dr. Ruth Lindsey-Armstrong has worked in the post-secondary education sector since 2001 as an Early Childhood Education instructor and is currently the Associate Dean of Health and Community Services at Red River College Polytechnic. Ruth is an Early Childhood Educator III (RRC 1986), has a BA in Developmental Studies (U of W 2007), a Master of Arts & Integrated Studies, with a specialization in Adult Education (AU 2012) and has completed a Doctor of Education in Distance Education. Ruth has developed a series of micro-credentials for mentorship and coaching in Early Childhood Education and has done work on curriculum development, review and revisions in the Polytech. Ruth is also a member of the Public Policy Committee for the Manitoba Child Care Association. In her spare time, Ruth has been studying Spanish at Université de Saint-Boniface and enjoys time at the family cottage.
Jennifer Nangreaves
Executive DirectorEarly Childhood Development Association of PEI
Jenn Nangreaves worked as both an Early Childhood Educator and as a Centre Director in the child care sector in both Alberta and Prince Edward Island before joining the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI in 2020. Jenn’s extensive experience in child care and her passion to promote professionalism in the sector has been a driving force for advancing child care services on PEI and in Canada. Jenn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts with a Major in Sociology, a Bachelor of Education specializing in Indigenous Studies and Literacy in the Early Years, as well as a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from New Brunswick Community College. When Jenn isn’t advocating for children, families and Early Childhood Educators, she enjoys spending time at the gym with friends, being outside, and spending time with family.
Bernice Cipparrone-McLeod
Director, School of Early Childhood George Brown CollegeBernice, a registered early childhood educator, completed her graduate studies at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Child Studies with a focus on assessment and counseling. Bernice has been engaged in the early childhood education and care sector as well as children’s mental health with the aim of supporting children’s learning, growth and development through relationship building, community engagement, and policy development. Her interest in creating inclusive accessible and equitable communities which promote well-being and belonging has been approached through collaboration with researchers, practitioners and policy makers as well as the training and education of early childhood educators. A professor in the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College, she is also co-author of the textbook, Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs, 8ed. Bernice presents locally and nationally, participating on a variety of committees, and works alongside the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario and the Ontario Coalition of Better Child Care on the “Professional pay and Decent Work” project.
Julie Cyr
General Manager, Early Learning Department, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)Julie Cyr is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) and experienced professional with over 30 years of dedicated service in Early Learning and Child Care. Currently serving as the General Manager of the Early Learning Department at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), she oversees 68 licensed Board-operated Extended Day Programs, three licensed Early Learning Centres catering to toddlers and preschoolers, and eight EarlyON Child and Family Centres, as well as supports on-site childcare for adults participating in LINC and ESL programs. Julie Cyr’s dedication to advancing the field is characterized by her advocacy for quality programs, a healthy and valued workforce, and a nurturing environment for children and their caregivers.
Diane Daley
CEO, Family Day Care ServicesDiane Daley is the CEO of Family Day Care Services, one of Toronto’s largest and oldest not-for-profit, multi-site, multi-service, early learning childcare and family support agencies. Annually, the agency serves the needs of thousands of children and families across the Regional Municipalities of Peel, Metropolitan Toronto and York, offering a range of high-quality programs. Including Centre based, licensed home based childcare, Early ON and family support programs. Diane has worked progressively in the sector at all levels for more than 25 years, and has an extensive repertoire of experience in the field. She is passionate about access, equity and social inclusion. She advocates to promote inclusive, high-quality early learning and programs, and believes that families and communities thrive when their perspectives are included. Diane is a registered Early Childhood Educator with a BA in sociology, gender and family studies and an undergraduate certificate in women’s studies.
Nicki Dublenko
Special Advisor, Association of Early Childhood Educators of AlbertaNicki Dublenko has been a leader and advocate for the early childhood education profession for more than 15 years. She is the executive director of a provincial day home agency and is active in numerous community organizations, including the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care and the Alberta Family Child Care Association. She served as the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA)’s board chair and continues to serve on the association’s policy committee and as a special advisor. Nicki is completing her PhD in early learning and care through the University of Toronto.
Annalise Yuzda
Vice President, Child Care for the YMCA of Northern AlbertaAnnalise has worked for the YMCA of Northern Alberta for more than 30 years and is currently the Vice President, Child Care. She serves on the board of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA), is a member of the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care, as well as being on the steering committee for Child Care Now Alberta. Annalise volunteers on the advisory committees for the Early Learning and Child Care programs at MacEwan University, NorQuest College, and Keyano College. Formally, Annalise dedicated nine years on the board of the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Child Care Services.
Jackie Rodler
Diversity Officer, CUPE Local 4745 Executive BoardJackie is an early childhood educator in Nova Scotia, and has been working in the field for 17 years. She graduated with distinction in 2018 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in child and youth study from MSVU. Jackie is the newly appointed diversity officer on the executive board for CUPE LOCAL 4745. A proud member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, Jackie strives to stand for equality, and practices that in her daily interactions with children.
Christa Japel
Professor, Université du Québec à MontréalChrista Japel is a professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal. She is a well-known expert on the quality of early childhood environments and programs to improve services, and was the lead researcher of the study examining the quality of child care services carried out within the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD/ELDEQ).
Emily Mlieczko
Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of BCEmily Mlieczko leads the association Early Childhood Educators of BC to support advancement of the ECE profession. Before starting in this position Emily worked in rural BC in a variety of early years programs in both 100 Mile House and Prince Rupert. After many rich experiences, including exposure to advocacy for the families she served, Emily decided to focus her attention on the need to be a strong voice for the ECE sector. Her education, passion, understanding and commitment to make things better for children, families and educators continue to guide her in work today.
Christine Massing
Associate Professor and Chair of Early Childhood Education, University of ReginaDr. Christine Massing is Associate Professor and Chair of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Centre for Educational Research, Collaboration, and Development in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina. Christine’s research primarily focuses on how educators, ECE students, and families from immigrant and refugee-backgrounds experience the tensions between their own culturally-constructed knowledges, beliefs, and values and the dominant, Western early childhood practices. As Principal Investigator in the Sketching Narratives of Movement Towards Comprehensive and Competent Early Childhood Education Systems Across Canada project, Christine recently collaborated with partners from eight post-secondary institutions to explore narratives of changes in policy, pedagogy, and practice across the provinces and territories to inform a federal response. She is Past President of the Canadian Association for Research in Early Childhood. Christine previously lived and taught in Colombia, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, and Egypt.
Anne Pinkerton
Mentor, Yukon UniversityAnne Pinkerton is proud to be an early childhood educator in the Yukon. She sees herself as a lifelong learner, flexible thinker, problem solver, collaborator, outdoor enthusiast with a hint of “crazy chicken lady that lives in the bush”. Her passions include land-based learning, professional development, and advocating for educators on all levels.
She also enjoys working with new educators, supporting them on their learning journey alongside the inspiring team at Yukon University.
Last but not least Anne is also the head of ECEYT—the association of early childhood educators in Yukon—which is a growing organization on a mission to bring educators together, amplify their voices, and promote the professionalization of the field.
Rea Knight
Faculty member, Yukon UniversityRea Knight is an absurdly off-tone singer, a curious learner, a demented dancer and an avid yuk’s enthusiast. She is also an ECE and educator of educators. Rea’s deep passion lies in the field of Early Childhood Education, and she considers herself fortunate to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a vision for a more equitable and meaningful system of early learning and who actively work towards making it a reality every single day.
