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By David Opinko

Child Care

Alberta childcare providers to receive payments at the beginning of the month

Mar 1, 2024 | 5:11 PM

The Government of Alberta said it is making a change that it hopes will help to stabilize the childcare sector.

Starting on March 1, 2024, childcare providers will receive approximately 80 per cent of their monthly claim at the beginning of the month, in addition to the fees they collect from parents.

That was a major concern for the operators of childcare centres across the province, as they held rallies in late January calling for change.

Two Grande Prairie operations were part of one-day rolling closures held to bring attention to the problem.

Since the implementation of the new affordable childcare system earlier this year, operators in Lethbridge said their payments were significantly delayed, leading to some centres closing or being at-risk of closing.

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Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade Matt Jones said they are fast-tracking $84 million in advance payments. The first advance claims will have been received by providers on or near March 1, 2024.

“Alberta families rely on high-quality child care so they can go to work or school knowing their children are safe and thriving. By providing funding up front, child-care providers will be able to continue focusing on what they do best: providing high-quality child care that meets the diverse needs of Alberta families,” said Jones.

Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds commended the province on responding to the concerns of childcare providers.

“I want to recognize Alberta’s efforts to support child-care providers and look forward to continued collaboration to build a stronger and more resilient Canada-wide early learning and child-care system,” said Sudds.

The Alberta Government said it will continue to engage with childcare providers, parents, and its federal counterparts as work continues to bring fees down to $10-per-day.

– with files from Curtis Galbraith.