CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Questions about how the province is helping the childcare sector during the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic were some of the first to be asked as MLAs returned to the legislature today for an emergency sitting.
Morell-Donagh MLA Sidney MacEwen said that as the childcare centres start to open during the pandemic, it has become obvious how important recruitment and retention are.
“How are we going to come through this crisis to make our early-learning sector more sustainable?”
MacEwen asked Education Minister Brad Trivers about plans to help the childcare sector as it deals with the pandemic and public health restrictions start to loosen.
Trivers said the government has been working on retention throughout the pandemic.
“We’ve made sure that regardless of whether the centres were closed or open, those workers were able to get their pay so they know that they can remain in that sector,” he said.
MacEwen said the crisis has also brought with it an opportunity to deal with wage increases for those working in the childcare sector.
Trivers said childcare is essential to the operations of the province.
During his responses to questions, Trivers twice referred to plans for the childcare sector that will be included in the upcoming provincial budget.
They were comments MacEwen made note of.
“That’s the second time the minister has mentioned the budget, so I certainly hope that in that budget this wage increases are coming because you’re going to look pretty foolish if you mentioned it twice and it’s not coming,” he said.
MacEwen also questioned Trivers about the designation of several early years centres, which was in the works prior to the pandemic.
Trivers said it has been a topic of discussion during the pandemic and the province has recently transitioned from emergency childcare.
“It’s something that I look forward to announcing soon as to when those designations are closing and what the results are,” he said.
