Early childhood educators (ECEs) in Manitoba, Canada, are set to benefit from a new wage grid that will increase their pay by up to $7 per hour, retroactive to April 2024. Tracy Schmidt, Manitoba’s minister of education and early childhood learning, emphasized that this increase addresses long-standing compensation issues in the sector. The wage grid is determined by the educator's certification level and the size of the facility, impacting early childhood educators, child-care assistants, and home-based providers in licensed and funded child-care settings. Jodie Kehl, executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, noted that this pay increase is crucial for attracting and retaining workers. Additionally, the province announced a $4.7 million increase in base operating grants for licensed child-care facilities and plans to invest over $14 million in early learning and child-care training programs across various educational institutions. The recent budget also pledges to create 2,300 new childcare spaces in Manitoba.