The Government of Alberta has negotiated an agreement with the federal government that will ensure $3.8 billion committed by the federal government goes toward the expansion of accessible, affordable and high-quality early learning and child care that gives Alberta families the choice and quality they deserve. This plan will reduce fees for parents of children aged zero to kindergarten by half in early 2022 and provide an average of $10 per day child care by 2026.

“Today is a good day for parents and families in Alberta. We’ve listened to families, child-care operators and business leaders to develop an agreement that gives us flexibility to truly meet the needs of, and make life a little easier for, even more families in Alberta.”

“Rural Alberta agrees that child care is important for our economic development and recovery. This made-in-Alberta plan provides families across the province with access to affordable child care while giving them the opportunity to return to the workforce.”

“The YMCA believes that high-quality, accessible, affordable care is essential for the development of children, the participation of families in Alberta’s workforce and our healthy post-COVID future. We’re so excited for what Alberta’s plan means for our province.”

“We are thrilled that this plan to increase affordability and accessibility of high-quality child care will expand prospects for women in Alberta to gain economic prosperity. As non-profit organizations alone cannot immediately scale up and deliver all the new, affordable spaces envisioned, we support Alberta’s plan to include a full spectrum of licensed providers, understanding that there will be policy levers in place to ensure an equitable playing field for providers across the province.”

“The YWCA believes that this historic plan will create better access to more affordable, high-quality child care in every corner of our province, which is necessary for the economic prosperity of all Albertans but particularly women and young families.”

“We opened our child care program to feed our families and provide support for our neighbours. We’re grateful that in the Early Learning and Child Care plan, the Alberta government ensured private operators like us were also included.”

“Access and affordability are important, but flexibility to support shift-working parents is an essential, game-changing, vital piece of this plan and we’re happy the Government of Alberta has heard the perspective of these parents.”

“I’ve worked in child care for over 10 years, and I know first-hand how impactful this investment will be for kids and families across Alberta. As a private licensed provider, I also know that parents make child care choices for a variety of reasons. This is just one reason that it’s critical to include us in this plan, and I’m grateful that the provincial and federal governments have done so.”

“Licensed Family Day Home Agencies have been operating in Alberta for over 30 years, and family day homes are the first choice for many families for affordable, accessible and quality child care. Including family day homes in this investment truly makes life easier for families across the province.”

“This agreement is a big step towards making child care more affordable and accessible for families in Alberta. Reducing the cost of child care means lowering the barrier for thousands of parents across Alberta to participate in the workforce. And because women are more likely to be affected by this barrier, it is also an important step towards supporting gender equality and, ultimately, greater prosperity in Alberta.”

The province will reduce fees by an average of 50 per cent in early 2022 and further reduce fees to an average of $10 per day for children aged zero to kindergarten over the next five years. All while supporting parents and families who need it most in licensed child care, such as preschools, daycare and licensed family day homes, in order to best meet the needs of working parents.

In addition to private spaces, the agreement includes a plan to add at least 42,500 new licensed non-profit and day home child-care spaces over the next five years. This will support Alberta’s economic recovery. There are also dollars dedicated to increase spaces to support children with specific learning, linguistic, cultural and other needs, as well as overnight child care.

Alberta’s government knows that quality care starts with quality educators, which is why it negotiated $300 million in funding for professional development, training and improved certification levels of the early childhood educator workforce.  

Quick facts

• The Alberta child-care subsidy program currently has one of the highest income thresholds in the country and provides subsidies to more than 26,800 families.
• Alberta will continue the competitive wage top-up program, among the highest in Canada, to support highly qualified educators delivering the quality of care parents in Alberta deserve and expect.
• Nearly 56 per cent of Alberta child-care spaces are private and many are operated by female entrepreneurs.
• Work is already underway to add 1,500 new licensed child care spaces in Alberta this year in areas of the province where there has been a lack of licensed child-care options for parents.
• The province will also have the flexibility to develop grants for inclusive child care to support children with extra needs, vulnerable communities, infant care or other areas of unique needs.
• Parents will continued to be supported by programs like the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), child care expense deduction and the Alberta child and family benefit (ACFB).