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The Government of Alberta is ensuring more families can access full-time childcare for $15 per day. (Photo: Bialasiewicz | Dreamstime.com)

Alberta expands $15/day childcare to all full-time licensed facilities

Jan 30, 2025 | 9:31 AM

The Alberta government says many parents of young children are set to save more money on their childcare costs.

As part of the $3.8 billion Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the province will soon provide approximately 85 per cent of licensed daycare facilities and family day home programs with a funding increase.

That means, effective April 1, 2025, all parents in Alberta with children aged zero to Kindergarten age who are in full-time care will pay a flat parent fee of $326.25 per month, or roughly $15 per day. Those who utilize part-time care will pay $230 per month.

The flat fee replaces the income-based Child Care Subsidy Program, which has provided $266 each month for families earning up to $119,999 annually for full-time care.

There will be no changes for children attending out-of-school programming.

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones explains that, while Alberta already reduced parent fees to an average of $15/day in January 2024, many families are still paying much more, depending on where they live, the age of the child, and the childcare provider they choose.

He says that has led to inconsistency and confusion, making it difficult for families to estimate their fees if they move or change providers.

“Albertans deserve affordable child-care options, no matter where they are or which type of care works best for them. We are bringing in flat parent fees for families so they can all access high-quality child care for the same affordable, predictable fee,” says Jones.

Starting in April, childcare providers will have the option to charge for additional services that go “over and above” the services that are provided to all children in individual childcare programs, such as transportation, field trips and food.

Diana Batten, Shadow Minister for Children and Family Services, issued the following statement in response:

“It’s about time the UCP government did the right thing and quit dragging their heels on moving forward with the federal government’s $3.8-billion child-care plan.

“The UCP government has underfunded child care for years and has failed to set providers up for success. This UCP government has never demonstrated a real commitment to the principles of affordable, quality, accessible child-care.

“Rather than making life more affordable for Alberta families this is a government that cancelled the made-in-Alberta $25-a-day child-care program, increased costs to child-care operators and parents and then former Minister of Children’s Services Rebecca Schulz had to be dragged by Alberta families to sign the federal deal.

“When the federal government announced this program, the target was for $10-a-day child care but the minister’s delay in participating has made that target unachievable and caused a lot of stress and anxiety for Alberta child-care operators and parents, not to mention an uneven system where some parents paid more than others for additional fees.

“The Alberta NDP will continue to advocate for affordable, universal, quality, and accessible early learning and child care for all Alberta families and children so that all Albertans can thrive.”

Pattison Media has reached out to the province to see if the childcare affordability grants will be impacted by this change.

More details on the Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement are available here.

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