Alberta adds more than 6,000 new affordable day-care spaces

The Alberta government has expandedits $25-a-day child-care program by adding another 100 Early Learning and Child Care Centres to the program.

The 100 centres announced Wednesday are in additionto22 centres that were part of the 2016 pilot project, whichprovided affordable child care to 1,200 kidsacross the province.

Adding the extra day-care centres to the program means 6,000 more children will have access to the spaces, the province said.

• Alberta pilot project offers $25-per-day child care
• $25-a-day child care coming to 18 Alberta day-care centres

"Parents shouldn't have to choose between groceries and child care, which is why today's announcement means more money for groceries and more basic familynecessities," Premier Rachel Notleysaid.

The expansion follows a bilateral agreement with the Government of Canada, which will see the federal government invest $136 million over three years to expand Alberta's affordable child-care program. The province will invest an additional $4.5 milliontowardthe expansion, on top of the$10 million announced last year.

The premierand members of her cabinet made the announcement at Norquest College, which is home to the 1000 Women Child Care Centre. The centre has 56 spaces for children aged 12 months to five years.

Province now has 7,300 affordable spaces

"Today's announcement brings the total number of affordable child-care spaces in Alberta to 7,300," Notley said. "It creates 450 child-care jobs and it allows more parents to join, or re-enter the workforce because they can have childcare that they can afford."

There are currently880licencedday-careprograms in Alberta, with a total of just under 50,000 spaces.

The province said enrolmentcurrently sits at just under 42,000 children.

Decisions about whoqualifies for $25 spaces are left to individualday cares.In order to qualify for the program, day caresmust have not-for-profit designations.

Parents whocurrently have their kids enrolled in the program say it is making a difference to their bottom line.

Brianna Vere saidher daughter, Ophelia, has been in a $25-a-day centre for the last 11 months.The program cut her family'schild-care costs in half while still maintaining quality child care. Before the program,Vere said she and her partner were relying on credit to pay monthly day-care costs.

"Child-care costs can be equivalent to a second mortgage or more," Veresaid. "For our family, this meant we struggled to make ends meet. Our income level was such that we fell through the cracks."

The 1000 Women Child Care Centre hosted the news conference and is alsoone of the centres that will now offer affordable child care. It was opened in 2017 and takes care of the children of students and some outside applicants.

"We are extremely thankful to join other Early Learning and Child Care Centres in our city in providing this service,"said AnnColbourne, board chair atNorQuestCollege.

The province has posted a list of theEarly Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centresthat are part of the program.