What Airdrie families need to know about Alberta’s new flat child care fee [1]
Excerpts
Alberta will introduce a flat monthly fee of $326.25 for full-time licensed child care, or $15 per day, starting April 1. This change is part of the $3.8-billion Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, aimed at standardizing child-care costs across the province.
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The flat fee replaces Alberta’s previous $15-per-day model, which led to inconsistencies depending on location, child age, and provider. The government claims this new model will eliminate these disparities and ensure greater fairness for providers.
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Expanding Access with $53 Million Grant
In addition to the fee changes, Alberta is investing $53 million in a Building Blocks Capital Grant Program to create affordable, high-quality child-care spaces across the province. This program will provide non-profit and public child-care providers with the capital needed to build, expand, and upgrade facilities, prioritizing areas with limited child-care options or underserved communities, including rural and remote regions.
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