LAKELAND - Families needing financial assistance with covering the cost of child care will soon get the helping hand they need through a provincial subsidy.
Starting Sept. 1, parents with a household income of up to $90,000 are eligible for a chunk of the $45 million the provincial government has allocated to the child care subsidy.
Last week, the Alberta government announced eligible families will receive $125 per month to assist with child care fees, including those incurred for children attending preschool. Prior to this announcement, only those in licensed day cares, family day homes, and out-of-school care programs applied.
The $90,000 threshold is a bump up from the previous $75,000 mark. Families can check their eligibility online starting Aug. 16.
“I think it’s great for the parents to have a higher threshold for the subsidy so more can qualify,” stated Bonnyville Childcare Centre Executive Director Kim Harvie.
Janice Fodchuk, director for the County of St. Paul and Town of Elk Point FCSS, doesn't feel it's enough.
“It’s doesn’t serve rural Albertans really at all," she told Lakeland This Week. “Most people who live in the middle of nowhere get family or friends to babysit, and they aren’t licensed so they don’t qualify."
Her suggestion is to allow those who have a babysitter, such as a neighbour, watch their children also be eligible, so long as they can provide proof in the form of receipts.
“A childcare subsidy should be for anyone who pays a babysitter,” stressed Fodchuk, adding family members could be excluded.
Alberta's Minister of Children's Services, Rebecca Schulz, said in a media release, “Our government knows access to safe, high-quality, affordable early learning and child care options will make a difference for working parents and their children, and support Alberta’s economic recovery. These investments are targeted, based on what we heard Albertans need, and are the next step in our longer-term strategy to support the choices parents are making.”
In addition to families receiving a financial boost, early childhood educators (ECE) working in a preschool setting will be granted a wage top-up.
“I think it’s awesome they’re finally giving a top-up for the preschool teachers,” expressed Harvie. “Right now, if you’re an ECE in daycare or out of school care you get a government top-up depending on the level of your education. Before, preschool teachers weren’t included in that top-up, and now they’re going to be.”
“As early childhood educators and preschool owners, we’ve been passionately advocating for these changes to preschool subsidy and wage top-up. This will help us acknowledge and retain our skilled educators. It will also give parents some welcome financial relief. Thanks to the Government of Alberta for addressing these concerns. We’re ecstatic about this announcement," said Dina Ottoni-Battistessa and Tristan Katz of the Alberta Preschool Advocacy Association in a statement.
The Bonnyville Childcare Centre is not a stranger to programs helping parents afford childcare. The centre had been one of the locations chosen by the province in 2017 to offer $25 per day daycare.
The major difference between that program and this one, Harvie said, was the $25 applied to everyone and was applied on a first-come first-serve basis.
Harvie described the new subsidy as "good all around."
“Any little bit to help our parents is important.”
