News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The Alberta Approach to Early Childhood Development aims to change that by improving supports and services so that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our plan is to create connected networks rooted in communities – to build a systematic approach to early childhood development that ensures every Alberta baby, toddler, child, and their family has access to high quality programs and services. Our plan means working together more effectively. The Ministries of Human Services, Health and Education are collaborating with each other and with communities to make this happen."

Excerpt: "To ensure that young children have the supports and opportunities they need to thrive and do well, it helps to know how they are doing and how the environments in which they are being raised are affecting their development both positively or negatively. Having this kind of research data provides evidence for sound policy and decision-making. A number of pilot studies of early development have been conducted in Alberta in the past, but these were limited in size and scope. The ECD Mapping Initiative was the first population-based study of preschool children to encompass the whole province. "

Excerpt: "Proposals were put before this House by the previous government to cut funding to Alberta’s elementary, secondary and post-secondary school systems – even though education is the single most important investment our province can make in the welfare of our children, and the success of our future economy. In this budget, we confirm we are restoring funding to the education and advanced education budgets that were cut by the former government."

Excerpt: "Each new child-care centre will receive up to $500,000 in operating funding in the first year, with the opportunity to receive two more years of funding. The locations of new child-care centres, targeted to where demand is greatest, will be announced early in 2017."

Excerpt: "The newly established Ministry of Children’s Services creates an increased focus on ensuring Alberta’s children are provided with services and supports they need to thrive; Budget 2017 provides stable funding for the child intervention system and provides a solid foundation to strengthen the system; The Alberta Child Benefit provides $174 million in 2017-18 with up to $2,785 each year to Alberta’s most vulnerable families, in support of about 200,000 children; The Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit supports working families with children by providing a maximum annual credit of $773 for families with one child, and up to $2,038 for families with 4 children or more."

Excerpt: "$4.4 million increase in Child Care due to higher than anticipated child care and pre-accredited programs being accredited with the corresponding higher funding rates for staff."

Excerpt: "This year, more new moms will have an easier time joining the workforce and more young families will benefit from affordable child care. We are expanding upon and learning from our $25-per day childcare pilot program. This year, we will create an additional 4,500 affordable childcare spaces across Alberta."

Excerpt: "The agreement allocates just over $136 million, over three years, to Alberta for early learning and child care investments. Funding to the province will focus on increasing access to quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care through the expansion of Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centres across the province. In 2017, the Government of Alberta launched 22 pilot ELCC Centres, based on a maximum fee for all parents of $25 per day to support children and their families accessing affordable, quality, flexible and inclusive child care. With this new funding, approximately 78 additional Early Learning and Child Care Centres will be launched across Alberta in 2017–2018, an increase of more than 350%."

Excerpt: "Premier Rachel Notley announced 82 locations where existing programming will soon transition to $25-a-day child care. Another 18 new centres will be added in future months as additional programs are licensed and obtain not-for-profit status. In total Budget 2018 supports 7,300 affordable child care spaces in communities all across the province."

Excerpt: "The ELCC Centre Initiative is positively impacting family and child well-being. The quality of care at ELCC Centres is providing children with a solid foundation for their growth and development, advancing children’s growth and development and improving children’s behavior. Additionally, the ELCC Centre Initiative is enabling parents/caregivers to return to school or work and to exercise more freedom of choice regarding their career and work arrangements. It is also reducing parents/caregivers’ stress and providing them with peace of mind as well as contributing to reducing the financial burden of daycare that families’ face; thereby enabling them to make ends meet, pay off debts, save for the future and afford to do fun activities with their children."

Excerpt: "That’s why we established a $25-a-day child care pilot program and expanded it to 7,300 spaces across 122 licensed child-care centres. But even still, child care is far too expensive for far too many women and families. That’s why, this year, your government will undertake a major new program to help young mothers and families save thousands of dollars and help make child care more affordable for everyone."

Excerpt: "As of March 2018, the availability of ELCC Centres supported an estimated 328 Albertans to enter or re-enter the workforce. 92% of parents said their children’s enrolment at a child care centre enabled them to return to work or school."