The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have announced $8.4 million in early learning and childcare workforce enhancement grants to help with recruitment and retaining staff for eligible childcare centres and group family childcare homes. Also, another $1 million has been added to the pot for a total of $53 million now for the Early Childhood Educator wage enhancement grant, which will mean a dollar an hour increases in the ECE wage enhancement grant maximums for all certification levels.

This funding comes from the federal government through the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. A joint news release from the two governments says the wage enhancement grant is effective September 1st, allowing for a wage top-up for eligible, certified educators of up to $8.50 per hour.
The grant has been increased four times since November of 2021. Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, says, “To make $10-a-day childcare a reality for families in Saskatchewan, we need to retain and recruit more early childhood educators.”