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Ontario ECE Workers Underpaid: Advocates

They say this leads to few workers

Advocates say Ontario's early childhood educators are among the lowest paid in Canada. 

According to a report from the Association of Early Childhood Educators and the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, the current rate of $19 an hour is the third lowest in the country. 

It also says higher wages are needed to keep the $10 a day child care program running. 

The advocates claim enrolment is being limited at many centres because low wages are driving staffing shortages. 

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said he'll release a workforce strategy this fall that will include a pay increase, but he hasn't specified by how much. 

The groups are pushing for wages around $30 to $40 an hour for registered early childhood educators, and at least $25 an hour for non-ECE workers. 

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