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Child Care Now responds to Alberta–Federal child care agreement

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Child Care Now welcomes the news that the Alberta and Federal Governments reached a temporary early learning and child care agreement, providing short-term stability for parents, educators, and providers. While this is a positive step, we are disappointed that the agreement is only for one year, unlike the five-year deals secured by most other provinces and territories.

“The temporary agreement provides immediate relief for parents who have licensed child care at cost of $15 a day but makes no commitments to expand access to the many families who remain on waiting lists, or those who were forced out of programs when the Government of Alberta eliminated low-income parent fee subsidies,” said Morna Ballantyne, Executive Director of Child Care Now. 

“Both families and licensed child care providers need long-term financial stability to plan for the future,” added Susan Cake, the Chair of Child Care Now Alberta. “A one-year deal simply doesn’t provide the confidence required to expand services and meet growing demand for families and children, and it creates stress for educators and families.” 

Child Care Now is urging both governments to continue negotiations and secure a longer-term agreement that will support the development of a high quality system of universally accessible child care—one that creates real stability for families, educators, and child care providers in Alberta.

Child Care Now is also calling on the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada to make the details of the agreement public.

“It is difficult to comment on the terms of the agreement beyond what has been shared in government media releases,” said Ballantyne. “It is not right that information that an agreement providing for more than $1 billion in public funds from one level of government to another remains secret.”  

Cake said that Alberta child care advocates will continue to press the Alberta government to take immediate action to improve child care in the province.

“Early learning and child care is essential for families and communities. Within these federal agreements Alberta has always had the flexibility to provide subsidies and support educators with better wages and benefits, but these options aren’t being used. Acting now would ease pressure on families and providers,” Cake said. 

“We urge the Alberta government to:

  • Reintroduce the lower-income subsidy that was cut in April 2025,
  • Reconsider the current funding formula for providers that has hindered expansion in communities with the least access to licensed early learning and child care,
  • Fund and put in place supports for educators, including wage progression, retirement plans, and extended health benefits.

We also call on the Federal government to continue expanding and strengthening this national program, which has already helped countless families and has the potential to become a cornerstone of Canadian society from coast to coast.”