LAKELAND - A much-anticipated agreement between the provincial and federal governments to address affordable childcare challenges in Alberta has Lakeland childcare providers excited about what the future holds and the benefits it will no doubt have for area families.
On Nov. 15, the province announced an agreement with the federal government had been made, ensuring funds committed by the federal government will result in the expansion of affordable and accessible early learning and childcare.
"This plan will reduce fees for parents of children aged zero to kindergarten by half in early 2022 and provide an average of $10 per day childcare by 2026," according to the Government of Alberta.
Over $2.8 billion will be spent on lowering childcare fees for Alberta parents, and over $240 million will go toward increasing the number of childcare spaces.
The agreement also includes a plan to add at least 42,500 new licensed non-profit and day home childcare spaces over the next five years. Also, $300 million in funding will be set aside for professional development, training and improved certification levels of the early childhood educator workforce.
"I am very excited about the federal-provincial childcare agreement that was announced... This long-awaited agreement will allow more families to be put back into the workforce while knowing their child is in a safe quality childcare environment," says Joelene Hazen, executive director of Boys and Girls Club in St. Paul.
She says it's a great feeling knowing every family - regardless of their financial status - will have access to the program.
According to the Government of Alberta, the Alberta child-care subsidy program has one of the highest income thresholds in the country.
"I am grateful that there will be space creation dollars spent to add at least 42,500 new licensed child care spaces over the next five years, so there shouldn’t be long wait lists like the $25 a day program," explains Hazen.
Even though the goal is $10 dollars a day in the next five years, Hazen is pleased with how the government is moving forward and is happy people will see reductions of about 50 per cent in childcare prices as early as January.
"Families are struggling to pay for childcare, childcare centres are struggling to keep enrolment due to high fees and struggling to maintain quality educators due to low wages or work shortages," says Hazen. "After the past few years of COVID and economic struggles for everyone, this is like a breath of fresh air. It is an exciting time to be an Early Learning Childcare Educator and watch this all unfold."
Tamara Van Happen is the executive director with Happy House Daycare, which has sites in Cold Lake and Bonnyville and says she's "very excited" about the recent announcement, and believes universal childcare is a goal for many who are working in the field.
When the $25 a day daycare was launched back in 2017 by the NDP government, Van Happen says the program didn't extend to every childcare provider.
“It was a pick and choose program," she says. The more recent announcement appears to be more broad and hopefully more accessible. Van Happen says some information was sent out to parents after the announcement was made, but she hasn't heard much feedback from the community yet.
One challenge Van Happen points out is that the program doesn't extend to out of school care. So, families with children who are six years old and up likely won't benefit.
But, much like Hazen noted, the fact that households of all incomes will be subsidized to some extend, is a bonus.
While offering low-income families help is of course necessary, Van Happen says families in the middle income bracket are often forgotten about. Even though a family may bring home $90,000 on paper, paying $1,500 worth of daycare fees a month for two children can be a challenge.
In larger urban centres in Alberta, the cost of child care can be much higher, and can be more than a vehicle payment or mortgage payment.
Clearly happy with the benefits that a $10 a day program will have on Alberta families, Van Happen also believes there is a missing piece to the puzzle. She believes the government needs to consider the educators who spend their days caring for children. With no increase to wage top-ups, and many educators making about $30,000, more is needed to give them living wages.
She also wonders how the news spaces will be created and filled, with a lack of educators at some communities.
"As amazing as it is for the families, they forgot about the people who are helping do the job," says Van Happen, adding, while she may want to give her staff a raise, she must be mindful of the trickle down effect it has on fees being charged to parents, and also the fact that there is a cap on yearly fee increases.
So, while the news is good, and it's great the provincial and federal governments are recognizing the need to improve childcare access, there also remains a "wait-and-see" component as more details are released.
According to information released by the Government of Alberta, the province will "continue the competitive wage top-up program... to support highly qualified educators delivering the quality of care parents in Alberta deserve and expect."
