The foundation of wealth lies in childcare services.
In her recent op-ed, Rima Elkouri spotlights an overlooked issue: the unacknowledged indifference towards early childhood educators, the bedrock of our collective future. These unsung heroes, amidst constant crises and pleas for help, continue to be undervalued, given meager recognition, and paid pittance for their monumental tasks.
She reminds us of the great significance of the early childhood educator's role. Beyond mere playmates, they shape, stimulate, and mold young minds, laying the groundwork for future education, mental health, and personal autonomy. They are the hidden architects of the social tree the government preaches to nurture.
Unfortunately, their work is undervalued, both symbolically and financially. As of 2025, a Quebec childcare educator makes roughly $21.77 per hour, less than a city gardener or a federal government archivist[1]. And educating future citizens is clearly worth less? Gardening or filing papers maybe. But shaping the future? This disparity has become a thorny issue, a government-wide blindspot.
The continued failure to recognize the link between fair remuneration and the quality of childcare services is a grave concern. Investing in educators ensures better services, better child development, and ultimately contributes to economic prosperity, the government's top priority.
The disconnect between the social importance of the job and its remuneration has become a pressing issue, a public crisis. We clamor about investments in education, innovation, and healthcare, yet rarely do we consider the foundation: the early childhood educators.
Childcare centres are no luxuries, they're necessities, enabling parents to work, society to stabilize, children to develop, and schools to welcome ripe students. Each dollar invested in childcare services is a dollar invested in health, academic success, equity, and innovation. The equation is simple: recognize the value of educators' work and pay them what they're worth.
So why this apathy towards their plight? Why is their strike noise in the background, rather than an alarm bell? If the Legault government aims to prepare for Quebec's future, it must do so not just through technological incubators and plans for Quebec's energy future, but by fully acknowledging the role of childcare services in building a strong, equal, and robust economy. This means rethinking salaries to match the true extent of this educational mission.
Prosperity begins at the childcare centre, between a foam block, a dedicated educator, and a well-loved Tchoupi book[6]. But for this to occur, the government must perceive this, act accordingly.
For further reading, check out "Strike of Childcare Educators - Childcare, Big Indifference." Join the discussion and share your thoughts.
1. Read "Strike of Childcare Educators - Childcare, Big Indifference" What are your thoughts? Join the conversation
Enrichment Data:
Current State of Remuneration for Early Childhood Educators in Quebec
Salaries
Early childhood educators in Quebec earn an average salary of about $44,211 per year[2]. When looking at hourly rates, early childhood teachers in Quebec make approximately $21.77 per hour on average as of April 2025[1].
Comparison to Other Professions
Compared to other teaching roles in Canada, early childhood educators generally earn less. For example, elementary school teachers typically earn between CAD 50,000 to CAD 85,000 annually[5].
Comparison Across Provinces
Across Canada, early childhood educator salaries vary significantly by province. Quebec's average salary is below the national average of $47,182[2]. Provinces like Yukon and Nunavut offer much higher average salaries, with $79,855 and $74,703, respectively[2].
Significance of the Issue
The low remuneration for early childhood educators is significant for several reasons:
- Retention and Attraction of Talent: Lower salaries can hinder the recruitment and retention of qualified educators, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to young children.
- Education Quality: Early childhood education is a critical period for development. Underpaying educators could lead to dissatisfaction and turnover, affecting the stability and quality of educational environments.
- Public Policy and Funding: The issue highlights the need for policy reforms and increased funding to support better compensation for early childhood educators, aligning their salaries more closely with those of other teachers.
- Societal Impact: Investing in early childhood education can have long-term benefits for children's development and societal outcomes. Underpaying these educators may undermine these benefits.
- Economic Considerations: In terms of economic policy, better salaries could improve the overall economic stability of educators and contribute to a more skilled workforce over time.
Overall, addressing the remuneration issue is crucial for maintaining a high-quality early childhood education system in Quebec and Canada as a whole.
- The article "Strike of Childcare Educators - Childcare, Big Indifference" presents the urgent need for societal recognition of the importance of childcare educators, whose hourly wage in Quebec, as of April 2025, is approximately $21.77.
- The importance of early childhood educators lies not just in the provision of basic childcare, but in the shaping of future generations; yet, their average yearly salary in Quebec is about $44,211, substantially lower than the salaries of elementary school teachers, for instance.
- In the realm of Quebec's current political discourse, there seems to be an underemphasis on the roles of childcare services, which, when combined with the lack of recognition for early childhood educators, becomes a pressing social issue.
- The continued undervalued remuneration of these educators has significant implications, such as the potential loss of talented individuals, the subsequent decrease in the quality of early childhood education, and the long-term effects on children's development and societal outcomes.
- Investing in fair remuneration for these educators is not only essential for the advancement of education early childhood education, but also contributes to economic prosperity, equity, and innovation, making it a vital pillar of the Legault government's plans for Quebec's future.
- As we debate about investments in education, innovation, and healthcare, it is crucial to consider the foundation of these investments - the early childhood educators - and the need to revaluate and rectify their current salary situations.
- To learn more about the salaries and significance of early childhood educators, read "Strike of Childcare Educators - Childcare, Big Indifference." Engage in the discussion about fair compensation for these vital educators and share your thoughts.
