Excerpts
Despite their stated dedication to community, access and belonging, the University of Alberta (U of A) will be ending funding support for all affiliated child-care centres in January 2026. Right now, funding for child care costs the university $298,600 per year or 0.02 per cent of the total expenses in 2024 — a small fraction of funds that make a huge difference in the community. The withdrawal of this support will increase uncertainty for families, reduce access to care, and harm the university’s relationship with the community.
For years, the U of A has provided funding for six non-profit licensed daycare centres on or near campus. The affiliated centres provide high-quality child care for over 300 families each year, and their partnership with the U of A creates important opportunities for engagement with the community and research collaboration.
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In addition to harming working families, the reduction of funding also has implications for gender inequality. Women continue to be underrepresented in the highest-paid positions at work due, in part, to child-care responsibilities. Despite the stated goal of the university’s Access Community and Belonging initiative being to “reduce inequities and barriers to access,” ending funding for child-care centres will prevent women from being able to participate in the workforce. The decision will also disproportionately harm racialized and Indigenous women who experience an even larger wage gap.
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Make no mistake — the loss of the university’s child-care grants is a direct result of the province’s disinvestment in public post-secondary education. But, this is also the university’s choice. We call on the U of A to make the choice to continue to support families and the larger community. This small portion of the budget has the potential to do so much good. If the U of A actually believes in its mission, it is the only choice to make.