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The federal government’s deadline to average $10 a day childcare across Canada is here — but Alberta says under the current terms, the target is not possible.
In 2021, Ottawa announced its plan to achieve $10 a day childcare and create 250,000 early learning and childcare spaces by March 2026. However, when it came time to extend the agreements last year, Alberta was one of two provinces to hold-out, citing concerns about the existing program.
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Federal governments needs to provide billions
Nicolaides said to reach the $10 a day target the federal government would need to provide an additional $2 billion to $3 billion to the province.
“Are they willing to put billions and billions of dollars more into this program so that the provinces can reach the targets, or are we collectively going to take a different approach,” Nicolaides said.
In a statement to Postmedia, the office of Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu said in January federal, provincial and territorial ministers met to discuss early learning and childcare.
The office did not say what Ottawa’s plans are for the program going forward.
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