Alberta will introduce a flat monthly parent fee of $326.25 for full-time licensed child care on Apr. 1, offering families child care at about $15 a day. The change is part of the $3.8-billion Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and is intended to provide greater cost predictability and transparency for parents.
Parents with children from birth to kindergarten age attending full-time licensed daycare or family day home programs will pay the monthly fee. Part-time care will cost $230 a month. According to Alberta’s government, it will cover about 80 per cent of total child-care fees through grants to these providers.
“Albertans deserve affordable child-care options, no matter where they are or which type of care works best for them. We are bringing in flat parent fees for families so they can all access high-quality child care for the same affordable, predictable fee,” said Matt Jones, minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade.
The new flat rate replaces a subsidy program and is meant to simplify fees for families who often pay varying amounts depending on where they live and the age of their child. The province says roughly 85 per cent of licensed daycare providers will receive a funding increase once the new fee structure is in place, to help support high-quality programs and reduce administrative hurdles.
“Reducing child care fees makes life more affordable for families and gives them the freedom to make choices that work for them—whether that’s working, studying or growing their family,” said Jenna Sudds, federal minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
Under the new structure, the province will continue to reimburse preschools up to $100 per month per child, up from $75. Fees for children in Grades 1 to 6 attending out-of-school care will remain under the existing subsidy program. Providers may offer optional services, such as transportation and field trips, for an added cost, as long as these do not give some families preferential access.
With Alberta’s population growing, government officials say the new approach seeks to create more affordable and stable child-care options for working parents. The province will monitor how the new fee system performs over the final year of the federal agreement and intends to address longer-term funding with federal officials in future negotiations.
