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By Curtis Galbraith
Child care

Alberta reaches maximum allotment for $10/day child care spaces

Jul 11, 2026 | 6:03 AM

Alberta reached its target for the number of $10/day child care spaces in early June. 

Association of Canadian Early Learning Programs chair Krystal Churcher says this means there will be no affordability grant funding available for any new spaces that opened after June 4. 

“We’ve actually had mass production of childcare spaces in Alberta; other provinces haven’t had, largely because of the for-profit expansion that was allowed in Alberta.” 

“We’re actually in a situation where we have more spaces than what we need across the province, on average.” 

Association of Canadian Early Learning Programs chair Krystal Churcher says there are some ways Alberta is better off than some other parts of the country. 

One of those is waitlists. 

“You look at Ontario, the City of Toronto is a great example, where it’s over eight years right now for a child care space.” 

“Alberta, for sure, there’s pockets where there’s still wait lists and, definitely, still high demand, but overall, we do have empty spaces.” 

Churcher is hoping some federal funding announced in June will go towards supporting spaces not included in the $10/day program. 

“But, right now in Alberta, we have an agreement in place with the federal government until the end of March, 2027, so after that, we’re looking at, likely, a whole different system with a different agreement.” 

“Hopefully, (we’ll have) a better system (that) works for families a little bit better here in Alberta.” 

That federal announcement included $5.4 billion over two years for the $10/day program. 

Some places have not yet met their targets for spaces.

by Curtis Galbraith