Children's Services Minister Rebecca Schulz announces new child care supports for Albertans.

By Chris Brown

NEW SUPPORTS FOR PARENTS, PRESCHOOLS

Province expands child care subsidy program

Jul 26, 2021 | 1:11 PM

Alberta’s minister of children’s services provided more details on child care investments in the province today, but they didn’t include $10 per day child care.

The province is increasing subsidy availability to families with household incomes of up to $90,000, up from the current limit of $75,000.

Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schulz made the announcement today at a Calgary preschool and adds the best part is that the subsidy is available for any space of parents’ choosing.

“Choice is absolutely something we’ve heard a lot about, that parents make a variety of decisions when it comes to early learning and child care, especially now as we come out of the pandemic and parents might be working part-time or working from home.”

The province says an extra 12,000 children will receive support through the subsidy availability increase.

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The province is also expanding eligibility for subsidy and educator wage supports to licensed preschools across Alberta.

Eligible families will receive $125 per month to assist with fees for child care. Subsidy funding had been only available for licensed daycare, family day home and out-of-school care programs.

“This means lower- and middle-income parents who choose preschool will now pay less than half of what they paid in fees before,” Schulz said. “On top of that, we know early childhood educators are key to high-quality programs and we know some operators offer both preschool, child care and out-of-school programs, which is why we’re extending these wage top-ups for early childhood educators in preschool as well.”

The province is directing over $4 million to provide the wage top-ups. About 1,300 certified early childhood educators working in licensed preschools will qualify for the wage top-ups.

The details come days after four-year extension was signed to the Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

$10 a day child care

Schulz said the province and feds are still negotiating details of a $10 per day child care plan.

She says it needs to be a plan that helps kids and the economy grow and aligns with the unique needs and priorities of Alberta operators and Alberta families.

“Every province across the country has a different market and their parents have different and unique needs. Alberta is not the only province that is looking for flexibility when it comes to this long-term strategy and plan,” she said.

Schultz added not every parent is looking for 9 to 5 full-time child care.

“Lots of parents are working part-time, some may be working from home. We know that preschools or part-time child care absolutely matter to those families.”

She said they’ve also been surprised by the interest in overnight care, especially in communities where there is industry and shift-working parents.

Schulz said she’s encouraged and optimistic about the negotiations.