'It would be life-changing': Advocates push for Alberta to sign on to $10/day federal child care program
A growing list of provinces are signing on to the federal's $10/day childcare plan, and advocates in Alberta are hoping the provincial government will follow suit.
The federal government is vowing to bring down the cost of childcare to $10/day by spending $30 billion over the next five years. So far B.C. and Nova Scotia have signed on to the plan.
"Parents are paying the equivalent of a mortgage for child care, and we know that if we could bring it down to $10 it would be life-changing for families," said Public Interest Alberta Executive Director Bradley Lafortune.
Lafortune says currently there is only space for one out of every seven kids in Alberta childcare facilities.
Childcare in Edmonton costs around $1,000 per infant a month. That price is one reason why some parents like Carmen North make alternate arrangements as their maternity leave comes to an end.
"You just end up working to pay for child care, which would have been the case in our situation," said North. "My husband is going to stay home with them."
North says she would need to understand what the federal program would look like, but thinks that many families would benefit from affordable childcare.
"Just being able to have something more affordable so that everyone can access it is definitely of benefit. Hopefully it allows parents to be at ease when they are working and providing for their family."
There have been promises for national universal childcare for decades in Canada. With tens of thousands of Canadian women leaving the workforce during the pandemic advocates say now is the time for change.
"With child care, women can make those choices to reenter the workforce more easily," said Lafortune.
He says caregivers, parents, grandparents and childcare providers need to pressure the provincial government to show there's strong demand for the $10/day program.
"We're not optimistic at this point in time that the provincial government is taking seriously this opportunity," said Lafortune. "This will have positive generational impacts for everyone."
- Reaction to feds' path to $10/day child care by 2026
- Liberals pledge $30B for child care with eye to reducing fees
The UCP says it's negotiating with the Liberals, but at the time of the announcement Premier Jason Kenney said: "If it's a take-it-or-leave it, Ottawa-style cookie cutter program. I don't think that satisfies the demands or expectations of Albertans."
Kenney went on to say that he thought the program left out rural Albertans, Indigenous communities and parents doing shift work.
In a statement, Minister of Children's Services press secretary Becca Polak said: "Minister Schulz has always indicated her willingness to work with the federal government on an agreement that benefits all Albertans."
It goes on to say: "The negotiation process has begun and we look forward to a deal that ensures access to affordable, high-quality child care for working parents.”
With a possible federal election looming, the child-care plan is largely seen as a campaign style promise.
"Trudeau wants to win seats in urban Calgary and Edmonton, so an agreement with Kenney would be a huge political win for Trudeau. I don't think Kenney is ready to give him that political mileage," said Chaldeans Mensah, a political science professor at MacEwan University.
"It's time for politicians to put away their differences and deal with this issue."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Touria Izri.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING CSIS to probe B.C. office after allegations of rape, harassment and toxic workplace
Canada's spy agency says it has launched a workplace assessment of its British Columbia office over 'serious allegations' raised by whistleblowers who say they were sexually assaulted and harassed by a senior officer.
With Canada set to reimpose cap on working hours, international students worry about paying for tuition, living expenses
Canada is set to reimpose the cap on the number of hours that international students can work off campus. But with heightened cost-of-living concerns in Canada, many international students say they're not sure how they'll be able to afford their tuition and living expenses if they can't work full-time.
Inmate stabbed Derek Chauvin 22 times, charged with attempted murder, prosecutors say
A federal inmate was charged Friday with attempted murder in the prison stabbing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.
WATCH 'Jumped over their heads': Kangaroo escapes Ontario zoo during overnight stay
A kangaroo destined for Quebec escaped an Ontario zoo during an overnight stay on Friday. According to an employee, it "jumped" over handlers' heads.
Mild, rainy winter expected as Canada warms at twice the global rate
Winter will be unusually warm and rainy across much of the country this year, according to the latest data from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
More salmonella-contaminated fruits pulled amid outbreak: Here's what was recalled in Canada this week
Here's a list of recalled items that got taken off the shelves this week
Alleged Montreal-area 'Chinese police stations' planning to sue RCMP for $2.5 million
Two Chinese community centres in the Montreal area are planning to launch a $2.5 million defamation lawsuit against the RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada after being accused by the police force of hosting 'alleged Chinese police stations.'
Canadian mining starts arbitration in case of closed copper mine in Panama
Canada's First Quantum Minerals Ltd. announced Friday it has requested arbitration proceedings to fight a Panamanian decision to halt a major open-pit copper mine concession in Panama or obtain damages.
Live updates Israeli strikes kill over 175 people in Gaza as cease-fire ends, health officials say
Israeli strikes on houses and buildings have killed at least 178 people throughout the Gaza Strip on the first hours of fighting after a weeklong truce collapsed Friday, according to the Health Ministry there. Israel said it struck more than 200 Hamas targets.