The Department of Education is working with the YMCA to find solutions to staffing issues that may force the regulated child care centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to close temporarily.

The department says it’s taken a number of steps in recent years to increase the number of ECEs—or early childhood educators—in the region. That includes an increase in salary for all levels based on $25 dollars per hour for Level II childhood educators. That will come into effect before April 1 and will be retroactive to January 1.

Other financial incentives have also been put in place including a rate escalator for child care services in the Labrador region that increased the operating grant for Labrador child care services participating in the program by 15 per cent. Funding is being provided to increase the number of seats in post-secondary early-learning programs while grants and bursaries are available for students enrolled in early childhood education programs.

A new recruitment campaign is also set to launch later this year.