'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 Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.