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By Tanner Smith
Alberta Government

Province proposes changes to Bill 35 to “protect children, keep parents informed”

Oct 29, 2026 | 2:11 PM

The Alberta Government has proposed a change to Bill 35, the Education and Childcare (Securing Parental Involvement) Statutes Amendment Act.

If passed this would amend the Early Learning and Child Care Act and “give the province stronger tools to assess the background of individuals applying to operate child-care programs.”

“(Bill 35) would allow the province to consider an applicant’s experience, financial capacity and compliance history with other regulatory bodies when deciding whether to issue or renew a child-care licence.”

Additionally, it would give the province the “authority to add terms to certifications, such as expiry dates, and establish renewal requirements,” allowing them to “maintain a more up-to-date picture of the active workforce and ensure certification requirements remain current.”

In its proposed changes, the province also introduced requirements for licensed child-care providers to inform parents about serious incidents, safety concerns, and compliance issues.

If those requirements aren’t met, the province would be able to notify the family directly.

Minister of Education and Childcare, Demotrios Nicolaides, added that “Parents deserve confidence that their children are safe and well cared for.”

“These changes would strengthen oversight of licensed child care, give government better tools to identify and address concerns, and ensure families receive clear, timely information when serious issues arise.”

Since 2021, over 67,000 child-care spaces have opened, with more than 145,000 children using licensed child-care across Alberta.

More information on the province’s goal of “protecting children, (and) keeping parents informed” can visit the Alberta government website.

by Tanner Smith