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By Abby Zieverink

$10 a day childcare

YMCA of Northern Alberta sees uptick in waitlist calls following $10 a day childcare announcement

Nov 29, 2021 | 1:22 PM

The YMCA of Northern Alberta Childcare is welcoming the $10 a day childcare announcement with open arms.

The announcement came on November 15 from the federal and provincial government which is set to see not only the average cost of childcare in Alberta drop to $10 a day within the next five years, but also see the average cost of childcare to be cut in half by the end of 2022.

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

YMCA of Northern Alberta Childcare Vice President Annalise Yuzda calls the announcement “groundbreaking” as it has been a long-awaited moment for many Alberta parents and families.

She says since the $10 a day childcare announcement was made, they have seen an uptick in parents, families, and guardians calling to be put on a waitlist for childcare.

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“People are gearing up for childcare, people are gearing up to go back to work because of the pandemic, so this is very timely for families, and we are fielding a lot of calls about families getting into childcare because of the announcement,” she said.

“I think as we get closer to the new year and into the new year, people will be knocking down the doors to get into childcare.”

Although the YMCA of Northern Alberta childcare services is eager about this announcement, Yuzda says the work now begins.

The $3.8 billion in funding from the federal government for the $10 a day childcare, Yuzda says will come with a lot of planning.

“We need to figure out how we’re going to use those funds and create a system for childcare in Alberta.”

The governments also aim to create 42,500 new licenced, non-profit daycare and day home spaces over the next five years.

Yuzda tells EverythingGP although the YMCA is always looking at expanding into communities that need childcare, there is one specific barrier they will need to overcome for those additional spaces to open.

“We need a workforce strategy because right now there’s a shortage of early childcare educators, especially in rural areas where childcare is needed so, those spaces are going to be dependant on if we have the workforce for that.”

Back in April 2017, Rachel Notley’s NDP government introduced a $25 a day childcare pilot program in Alberta, which ended on April 1, 2021.

Through that pilot program, the YMCA had 19 locations across Alberta offering $25 a day childcare.

RELATED: Four Grande Prairie locations included on provincial daycare expansion list

Yuzda explains when they were part of the NDP’s $25 a day childcare pilot program, it was extremely helpful for families and parents, which is why she is eager that $10 a day childcare will soon come to fruition.

“We know that was life-changing for parents so we anticipate that this will do the same and will make childcare more accessible and affordable for families.”

The pilot came to an end on April 1, 2021, as it was not renewed by Premier Jason Kenney’s current government.

On November 26, the province announced further information on the $10 a day childcare, which will see subsidies for families earning under $180,000 a year, as well as operating grants for facility-based childcare programs.

READ MORE: Alberta offering subsidies, operational grants following “historic” childcare agreement

The government says they are working with family day homes and family day home agencies to finalize grants and subsidy levels for day home providers and parents, which are also set to roll out in mid-January 2022.