Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the provincial-federal agreement on Monday in Edmonton (Photo: Your Alberta / YouTube)

By Abby Zieverink

Within five years, PM says

Alberta, feds reach deal for $10-a-day child care

Nov 15, 2021 | 11:10 AM

The federal and provincial governments have made a significant announcement regarding child care in Alberta.

Federal officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, joined Premier Jason Kenney in Edmonton Monday to announce a new program that will see the average cost of child care in the province drop to $10-a-day within the next five years.

Trudeau says the $3.8 billion program will see $10 per day child care will become a reality in all areas of the province by 2026.

“$10 a day childcare will be a reality right across the province. By the end of next year, childcare fees will be cut in half for Albertan families,” Trudeau stated Monday.

The governments also aim to create 42,500 new child care and early learning spaces in Alberta as part of the program.

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Trudeau says this announcement comes with strengthening and updating the wage grid.

“So that early child childhood educators get the kind of training and support that they need to contribute in such an important way to not just the present of our society, but the future of it as well.”

Kenney said all types of licensed childcare services will be supported through this program, including preschools, daycares and licensed day homes seving children aged 0 to Kindergarten.

“To ensure every child has the care that works for them, there’s funding for those with specific needs such as linguistic, cultural, and special learning supports.”

Kenney explained this means more jobs, more access and more childcare spaces for Alberta families.

This announcement comes to as Kenney describes as part of a fair deal to bring more of Albertans’ tax dollars back to the province.

“This announcement will certainly help to grow the economy and will certainly make life better for many families.”

Choice of child care had been a sticking point in negotiations between Ottawa and Alberta for the province to join in on the program.

Alberta becomes the ninth province to sign on to the universal child care program, with Ontario remaining as the lone holdout.

(With files from Lethbridge News Now)