Province improves access to childcare

Melissa Strle

Times Reporter

 

In a move to increase access to quality, affordable childcare, the province of Alberta has announced the development of 18 new early learning and child care centres across the province.
The move is the first step the province is officially taking with regards to lowering the fee charged by early learning and child care centres to a maximum of $25-per-day child care in Alberta.
“We know the cost of quality child care is a challenge for many families. As a government, it is up to us to support parents and make sure children have opportunities for bright futures,” said Irfan Sabir, Minister of Human Services, in a news release. “I am proud that our government is creating new child-care spaces across the province.”
The new announcement comes on the heels of the government’s recent election platform, which included extending access to childcare with the $25-per-day model as the province’s finances permit.
The government states that this new $10 million investment will create approximately 1,000 new child-care spaces and up to 230 new jobs.
Aaron Manton, press secretary for the Minister of Human Services, said that in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the province recorded the average childcare fee at approximately $848 per month. However, Manton warned that this fee “varies greatly” across the province.
“We hear anecdotally from parents who pay a lot more than that too,” said Manton. “It’s so important to invest in affordable childcare.”
The locations of the new child care centres across the province will be determined based upon where demand is greatest. Manton said that higher costs are associated with places where there is great demand.
There will be at least one centre in each of the seven human services delivery regions. These regions are separated into NE, NW, North Central, Edmonton, Calgary, Central and South within Alberta.
Manton said the province will decide on the centres using a mix of geo-spacial data along with information obtained on early development indicators throughout the province. The province will be “targeting the new centres to where they can make the most difference.”
The new child care centres are designed to help fill in the gaps in the current childcare system.
For example, the new centres will address gaps in flexible child-care arrangements for parents doing shift work, and it will also provide more accessible locations for childcare, such as hospitals or other public buildings.
In addition, the new investment will help support children with diverse needs.
Each new child care centre will receive up to $500,000 in operating funding in the first year with the opportunity to receive two more years of funding. The ultimate amount of funding received will be based on each application.
“I expect that we’ll get a lot of organizations applying for the full amount,” said Manton.
The deadline for applications closes Jan. 20, 2017, and the locations of the 18 new child care centres will be announced sometime before April 2017.