Alberta renews federal funding for child care, has yet to sign up for Ottawa's subsidy plan
Alberta will continue to get money from Ottawa for its child care program, but has not yet signed up for its share of $27-billion federal pot for such services, much to the Official Opposition's criticism.
The province announced on Friday a renewal of the Canada–Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which will see the federal government provide more than $100 million for program subsidies and recruitment this year.
According to Children's Services Minister Rebecca Schulz, $45 million will be used to make child care more affordable for working parents and $56 million will be spent on professional development and workforce recovery and retention.
She called the extension a "great first step" in negotiations with Ottawa.
But the NDP was quick to point out Alberta hadn't yet accessed federal funding B.C. and Nova Scotia are using to implement $10/day child care programs.
- B.C. child care to cost $10-a-day on average in 5 years, leaders promise
- N.S. becomes second province to sign on to federal Liberals' child-care subsidy plan
The two provinces were the first to take advantage of a national program Justin Trudeau's Liberal government introduced in April to cut fees and create spaces. Trudeau pledged $27.2 billion over five years to the initiative in the most recent budget.
Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley figures Alberta's UCP government leaves about $1 million on the table each day it doesn't take advantage of the money pot, and called Friday's announcement a "bait and switch."
When asked why Alberta hadn't yet worked out a deal with Ottawa, Schulz said the province "didn't have quite all the information that some of the other provinces had" but that it had received a term sheet this week outlining the parameters of the funding and could soon start negotiations officially.
She said her government was working to make sure Albertans had a variety of options. "
"Alberta is not the only province looking for flexibility," the minister told CTV News Edmonton. "We know that every province has a different system and parents have different needs, so we are very optimistic we can get a fair deal.
"We know that childcare matters. Access to high quality, safe, affordable childcare absolutely matters for Alberta working parents, but especially for women."
Notley called the suggestion that a $10/day program would be one-size-fits-all trite, inaccurate and unrealistic.
"(The Canada–Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement) is a lovely funding program but it is not going to make any significant change in the lives of people who are looking for either a $25/day program or $10/day program," she told press.
"The longer the UCP waits on this deal, the worse off Albertans will be."
According to Schulz, Alberta spends about $400 million each year on child care, a large chunk of which -- $280 million – is used to subsidize the cost on families.
Parents with an income of $75,000 or less have access to subsidies, which brings the cost down to about $13 a day, Schulz said.
Recent studies pin the monthly cost per child at around $1,000 – roughly $30 a day.
Jennifer Usher, industry expert with the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta, told CTV News Edmonton that the deal means Albertans are still relying on subsidies to make childcare affordable – which comes with gaps in the system.
“A middle income family, you may not be eligible for the subsidy, and so then you’re having to pay the full cost,” Usher said.
“It is not building a true (childcare) system, and it does not truly address affordability for families.”
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Police say another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.