Alberta expands $25 daycare to 78 more child-care centres

The Alberta government has expanded a program for child care that costs parents $25 a day.

A pilot project was announced in April offering the reduced fee at 22 child-care centres.

It was part of an NDP campaign promise in the 2015 election to create cheaper care.

Children's Services Minister Danielle Larivee says an additional 78 centres will be offering the reduced rate.

Funding for the expansion comes from Ottawa based onan early learning and child care framework between the provinces and the federal government signed in June.

Larivee says she understands the need is great, and the expansion includes creation of an additional 4,500 daycare spaces in the province.

"Child care in Alberta is far too expensive for families, and that's exactly why our government is taking action to make affordable, quality child care more accessible," she said in a release Tuesday.

Non-profit organizations or those interested in becoming non-profit child-care providers have until Jan. 31 to apply for a three-year operating grant.

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