Thank you very much for the question.
I was likewise very encouraged by Premier Holt's remarks and, frankly, the number of times that she mentioned a number of the programs we've been working on together, namely the $10-a-day early learning and child care program, as well as her ambition around joining our national school food program. These are two great examples of programs that provide tremendous financial relief for parents. Of course, we all know how expensive it is to raise a family.
On the specifics in New Brunswick, I would suggest there's still a lot of work to be done when it comes to supporting the workforce. We are now just over halfway through our five-year agreement with New Brunswick on child care. We've seen them get to a 50% reduction in fees. This means that on average, parents are saving $3,600 a year. The average fee in New Brunswick is now down to, I believe, $12.82, so just under $13. They've made some great progress.
Having said that, they have implemented a wage grid for the ECE workforce, which is a positive step to ensuring that ECEs are well compensated and well respected. I will say there are other provinces accelerating their wage grids at a quicker pace and that some provinces have moved forward with benefits and pensions for their workforces. These are important steps forward as we continue to build out this national system. There's still much more to be done, but we're excited to work with the new government there.