Open
Source verified August 1, 2026
Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program
Wage subsidy for eligible ECEs
Latest source updateLast Update: July 31, 2026Latest change: The program’s guide and online form now show updated application steps, support contact details, and review/reporting instructions, with new funding and eligibility details also visible.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 31, 2026
Latest change: The program’s guide and online form now show updated application steps, support contact details, and review/reporting instructions, with new funding and eligibility details also visible.
ECE Wage Subsidy guidance and form updated
The 2026 Program Guide now adds a more detailed application process for the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program, including the instruction to apply by the first week of November for 2026, use Apply Now, and follow the new draft/edit rules and support contacts shown on the form page. The guide also now states that subsidies include 19.56% MERCs for a total of $3.59 per hour, are based on up to 40 hours per week, and cannot be applied to paid or unpaid leave, sick time, vacation time, or other non-worked time. It further adds quarterly reporting requirements, an up-to-8-week review period, and extra ineligible categories such as ECEs caring only for their own children, Supported Child Development consultants or support workers, ECE Assistants, and Responsible Adults.
Funding available
Up to 19.56% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Non-profit and for-profit providers of licensed child care in the Columbia Basin Trust region can apply.
See full eligibility
Overview
This Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program supports licensed child care facilities in the Columbia Basin Trust region with wage subsidy funding for eligible ECEs. It covers wage top-ups for current staff and vacancies, plus MERCs, and applies to group child care, multi-age child care, preschools, and in-home multi-age child care.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
Eligible Funding
- Up to 19.56% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Enhancing the wages of eligible Early Childhood Educators employed by licensed child care facilities.
- Recruiting and retaining qualified ECEs to help address staff shortages and improve access to safe and affordable child care.
Documents Needed
- WorkSafeBC clearance letter
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit and for-profit providers of licensed child care in the Columbia Basin Trust region can apply.
- Group Child Care
- Multi-Age Child Care
- Preschools
- In-Home Multi-Age Child Care
Who is not eligible
- Family Child Care, School Age Care, Occasional Child Care, Registered License-Not-Required Care, License-Not-Required Care, and In-Child’s-Own-Home Care are not eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Wage subsidy to enhance ECE wages by $3 per hour.
- Mandatory employment related costs (MERCs).
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Sick time, unpaid or paid leaves from the facility, vacation time, or any other non-worked time.
- ECEs that only care for their own children.
- ECEs working as Supported Child Development consultants or support workers.
- ECE Assistants (ECEAs) and Responsible Adults.
Eligible geographic areas
- Columbia Basin Trust region
Selection criteria
- Applications are assessed as they come in, on a first-received, first-served basis.
- The Program will prioritize providing wage subsidies for the number of ECEs required by licensing and will consider additional ECEs employed by the facility on a case-by-case basis.
- The Program also considers geographic distribution of wage subsidies in its funding decisions.
How to apply
- Review the Program Guide before beginning your application form.
- If you would like to work offline, download the Application Worksheet.
- Click on Apply Now to begin.
Processing and Agreement
- The review process may take up to eight weeks.
- Staff may request additional information during the evaluation phase.
- You will be contacted by e-mail at the address you provided in the application form to confirm if the application has been approved for funding.
- If your application is successful, you will sign a Contribution Agreement with College of the Rockies to receive a wage subsidy for eligible ECE hours for up to 12-months in the calendar year you apply.
- Eligible ECEs will submit a signed declaration form confirming participation in the program, and employers will commit to submitting quarterly reports confirming ECE hours and maintaining accurate payroll records for submission if requested.
Additional information
- Applications are accepted on a first-received, first-served basis until all funds are committed.
- The review process may take up to eight weeks.
- An optional Application Worksheet is available, but it cannot be used as the application.
- If an organization operates more than one child care facility, one application must be completed per facility.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program Program
What is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program?
This Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program supports licensed child care facilities in the Columbia Basin Trust region with wage subsidy funding for eligible ECEs. It covers wage top-ups for current staff and vacancies, plus MERCs, and applies to group child care, multi-age child care, preschools, and in-home multi-age child care.
How much funding can be received?
Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program Funds up to 19.56% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program program?
To be eligible for the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program program, you must:
Licensed child care facilities must be in good standing with the Ministry of Education and Child Care and provincial licensing and regulations.
Employers must be located in the Columbia Basin Trust region and have a WorkSafeBC account in good standing.
Employers must receive at least $4/hour in wage subsidy from another source and continue paying ECEs their previous wage plus the $3 subsidy.
What expenses are eligible under Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program?
Enhancing the wages of eligible Early Childhood Educators employed by licensed child care facilities.
Recruiting and retaining qualified ECEs to help address staff shortages and improve access to safe and affordable child care.
Who can I contact for more information about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program?
You can contact Columbia Basin Trust by email at ecewagesubsidy@ourtrust.org or by phone at 1.877.489.2687 ext. 3689.
Where is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program available?
The Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Early Childhood Educator Wage Subsidy Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns