Ontario NDP promises $25 minimum wage for early childhood educators if party forms government

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is promising a $25 minimum wage for registered early childhood educators and a $20 minimum wage for all other child care program staff if the party forms government.

In March, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government signed a $10-a-day deal with the federal government for licensed child care. This included in an $18-an-hour minimum wage. Many advocates have said $18 is too low.

Horwath also promised that if she is premier she will work with unions and child care advocates to design and implement a Workforce Strategy that would lead to a wage grid and work standards including benefits, pensions and support for child care workers to upgrade their qualifications.

NDP says it will unveil a fully costed platform.