PEIChanges made to federal immigration policies earlier this year mean early childhood education centres are using new practices when it comes to hiring staff.Some operators need to rely heavily on international workers, says ECDA P.E.I.Brittany Spencer · CBC News · Posted: Oct 04, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 4Changes to immigration policies left some child-care workers on P.E.I. uncertain about their future, and sparked worries among centre operators about what it would mean for their ability to meet staffing demands. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)Changes made to immigration policies earlier this year have some early childhood education centres on Prince Edward Island doing business differently.Jennifer Nangreaves, executive director of the Early Childhood Development Association of P.E.I., spoke to a legislative standing committee Thursday about the effects that sweeping changes to national and provincial immigration policies have had on her industry. She said staff are managing the staffing demands well overall, but that there are some centres bearing the brunt of the policy changes, particularly those that rely heavily on international recruitment.”This is not widespread, but there are pockets of centres that rely heavily on recruiting those with work permits that are feeling that impact more strongly than others,” she said. “That’s why they’re facing this sort of tense timing when they have many [permits] expiring at the same time.” Earlier this year, the federal government made sweeping changes to Canada’s immigration system in response to the country’s growing population.Ottawa slashed P.E.I.’s allocation of nominees through the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program by half — to 1,025 this year. That decision came after the province voluntarily reduced its number of nominations in 2024, issuing just 1,590 out of its allocation of 2,050.The changes meant some child-care workers faced uncertainty about their future on the Island, and sparked worries among centre operators about their ability to meet staffing demands. Centres have gone from 50 children to 125 children. Those staffing units have had to increase as well.- Jennifer Nangreaves, Early Childhood Development Association of P.E.I. Nangreaves said the association has hosted a number of meetings with federal and provincial immigration experts since last December to talk about the policy changes, and how centres should be adjusting hiring practices to accommodate them.Part of that, she said, includes taking a close look at work permits when staff are hired to ensure centres know exactly when they will expire. The goal is to stagger new hires to make sure a large number of permits won’t all expire at the same time. Jennifer Nangreaves, executive director of P.E.I.’s Early Childhood Development Association, says centre operators are encouraged to limit the number of staff holding a work permit to less than 35 per cent of their total workforce. (Steve Bruce/CBC)The association also recommends centres limit the number of staff holding a work permit to less than 35 per cent of their workforce. While most centres on P.E.I. are meeting that target, Nangreaves said others are “well above” the desired maximum.Speaking after the committee meeting, she said much of that is due to the increased demand for child-care spaces. “Centres have gone from 50 children to 125 children. Those staffing units have had to increase as well,” she said. “When an operator is managing a lot of work permits expiring at the same time, that can be really stressful.”Many ECEs looking to train hereNangreaves said the association is also focused on recruitment efforts, and is working with Holland College and Collège de l’Île through projects like Steps to Success — a provincially funded program that offers financial assistance to people training for a career as early childhood educators.”We have a lot of people interested in entering our sector,” she said. “It looks like there’s promising candidates coming through.” WATCH | Changes to P.E.I.’s immigration policy worry some ECE workers and daycares:Changes to P.E.I.’s immigration policy worry some ECE workers and daycaresChildcare centres are nervous, saying to the immigration process will make it hard to attract and keep international workers. Nangreaves said she hopes early childhood education remains a priority during the upcoming sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature.”We always love when early childhood is a discussion point,” she said. “Early childhood educators are essential and we want to make sure that it’s always thought of as a really important investment.”ABOUT THE AUTHORBrittany Spencer is a multi-platform reporter and producer with CBC Prince Edward Island. She’s covered politics, health care and the justice system. She’s a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s journalism program and joined CBC in 2017. You can reach her at brittany.spencer@cbc.caWith files from Gwyneth Egan
How early childhood educators on P.E.I. are adjusting to new immigration rules
