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By Justin Goulet

Child Care

Province taking steps to address child care concerns

Feb 16, 2024 | 3:41 PM

The Government of Alberta says it is working toward addressing concerns from child care operators.

Recently, operators have voiced issues with the province’s Affordability Grant, funding that is paid directly to eligible child care providers. According to the province, an increase to the grants announced in December 2023 will result in parents paying an average of $15 per day for child care in 2024.

However, some operators have noted that increase comes with significant delays in funding being provided to them, which results in a lack of operation funds for the month.

On February 16, Premier Danielle Smith tasked Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones to lead the province’s work on child care. The province noted Jones will engage with the federal government to address concerns of operators and to ensure child care remains sustainable.

“I look forward to supporting our entrepreneurial and innovative child care operators as they continue to provide world-class care to Albertans and their children,” Jones said.

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STREAMLINING PAYMENTS

Officials stated that the government is working on a new system that should streamline payment processes and ensure child care operators receive their Affordability Grant payments faster. Work on this is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Technology and Innovation.

“I am pleased to be working with the Ministry of Children and Family Services and the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade to ensure child care operators are receiving their grant payments quickly, easily and efficiently,” said Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation.

The province added that Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton will focus on the core mandate of his portfolio: protecting children, preventing family violence, early childhood development, and supporting foster and kinship caregivers, as well as those pursuing adoption.

“Alberta families place their trust in child care operators every single day to keep their children safe and help them grow and thrive,” Turton said.

“This new payment system will better support child care operators in this important work.”

NDP RESPONSE

The Alberta NDP’s Critic for Children’s Service, Diana Batten, has issued a response to Jones’s appointment. Batten claimed that “The UCP and Minister for Child and Family Services is absolutely failing Alberta parents and child care providers.”

Her statement continued as follows:

“Child care operators have been carrying the consequences of the UCP’s failures in effectively rolling out an affordable, accessible, quality child care program.

The $10/day child care program was designed to be a cost-share agreement between the federal government and the provinces, and the UCP has not stepped up.

Since the beginning of this deal, the UCP has done a poor job in launching and investing in this important child care program for Albertans, so I’m not sure what Danielle Smith believes switching up the person in charge of its organization will accomplish.

The UCP needs to listen to parents and listen to child care providers, admit their formula is broken, and address this provincial funding shortfall in Budget 2024.”

AACE RESPONSE

The Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs (AACE) meanwhile, issued its gratitude to the premier. Chair Krystal Churcher said, “We are very encouraged by the government’s announcement and wish to personally acknowledge and thank Premier Smith for her dedication to understanding our sector’s concerns and for taking swift, decisive action.”

“Having Minister Jones, with his extensive experience and previous engagement with the child care portfolio, take the lead on this file assures us of a seamless transition and a quick adaptation to the pressing needs of our industry.”

Churcher said previous meetings with Jones were productive and the AACE is optimistic about further discussions on solutions to challenges operators are facing.

“We believe that his leadership, coupled with Minister Glubish’s efforts to streamline payment processes, will greatly contribute to the sustainability and success of childcare operations in Alberta.”