Submission #2465

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing as a parent of a child enrolled in early childhood care in Prince Edward Island. I am deeply troubled by the provincial budget’s proposed reduction of Pedagogical Leader positions by up to 50% across the early learning sector.

My family has directly experienced the difference that high-quality early childhood education makes. The Pedagogical Leaders who support our daughter’s centre are not administrative extras—they are the backbone of program quality. They mentor educators, coordinate inclusion supports, guide curriculum planning, and ensure that the children in their care receive a standard of early years education that PEI has rightly earned recognition for.

Cutting these positions by half would be a significant step backward. It would increase the burden on already stretched educators, reduce the consistency and quality of programming, and ultimately harm the children and families who depend on accessible, affordable, high-quality childcare. The $10/day childcare model is only as strong as the professional infrastructure supporting it. Hollowing out that infrastructure while maintaining the optics of affordability is not a responsible path forward.

Early childhood education is not babysitting. It is foundational development. The research is unambiguous: the early years are among the most consequential in a child’s life, and the quality of care during that window has lasting impact. Pedagogical Leaders are a direct investment in that quality.

I urge you to reconsider this proposal and to engage meaningfully with the early learning sector before any reductions are finalized. Families across this province are counting on you to protect what has been built—not dismantle it.

Thank you for your time and for your service to the people of Prince Edward Island.