New Parkland Institute research finds affordability, accessibility, and quality still falling short

EDMONTON - In the wake of the January 30th announcement by the Alberta government of $15-a-day child care rates to take effect in April, a timely new report from Parkland Institute analyzes the state of child care in the province and examines Alberta’s implementation of the federal $10-a-day child care program. Written by researcher and Child Care Now Alberta chair Susan Cake, the report — Raising Alberta: Making $10-a-Day Child Care Work in Our Province — offers actionable recommendations to address the challenges that threaten the program’s success.

Can $10-a-day child care work in Alberta? Some aspects of the program are already showing promise, with progress on lowering parent fees and expanding licensed spaces. Yet there are still significant gaps in affordability, accessibility, and quality, and while the program requires a concerted effort from all levels of government, the province has considerable room to enhance its role.

“Currently, the federal government is the main funder of Alberta’s system by a substantial margin,” says report author Susan Cake. It remains to be seen whether the recent announcement will bring the province to a 50-50 partnership with Ottawa, or how Alberta’s funding will complement the federal funding and be used to support the development of a universal, affordable, and high-quality child care system for all Albertans.

Beyond offering affordable child care to all families who need it, ensuring quality is another crucial issue. “With most care now being government-funded, it is a key government responsibility to ensure that all available choices are of high quality,” says Cake. “But instead of striving to improve quality, Alberta has been moving toward less regulation and a reduced policy focus on excellence.”

The distinction between what the province calls “core” and “enhanced” child care services — with anything deemed ‘enhanced’ resulting in extra charges for parents — is one way the government appears to be steering the program toward a two-tiered system, where higher-income families have access to superior services while others must settle for basic care. Quality is also a concern when we consider that, unlike other provinces, Alberta’s legislation does not require child-care providers to follow any set curriculum.

A robust, well-trained child-care workforce affects both the ability to expand the number of providers and the level of service they offer. Several of the report’s recommendations focus on improving Early Childhood Educator (ECE) development and management. “Alberta has one of the lowest requirements for ECEs in Canada,” explains Cake. For instance, daycare facilities can hire the majority of their staff from ECEs who are accredited through a 54-hour online orientation course. The Alberta government also wants 16- and 17-year-olds working in child care facilities “under adult supervision,” suggesting that older children may be deemed capable of caring for younger children.

Many of the issues hindering child-care expansion and quality can be addressed at the provincial level, such as fixing the funding formula and tying financial support to quality standards. Collaborating with municipal governments and school boards could also optimize space creation, and resources like a child-care database and a centralized waitlist would help connect families to available spaces and reduce wait times. Cake concludes, “By addressing funding challenges, prioritizing quality, supporting workforce development, and ensuring accountability, the $10-a-day child-care plan can work in Alberta, benefiting the communities, workers, families, and, most importantly, Alberta’s children.”

Summary of key report recommendations

Increase Provincial Funding: Increase the provincial government funding so that it becomes a 50-50 partner with the federal government in Alberta’s early learning and child-care sector.

Mandate a Curriculum Framework: Mandate the curriculum framework Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework for all providers receiving government funding.

Incentivize Quality Through Grants: Redesign the government grants and the parent subsidy system to focus on incentivizing quality, which could be based on Alberta’s prior Accreditation Program.

Implement Workforce Supports: Implement a wage grid, pension, and workplace benefits for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to encourage them to stay in the sector and further develop their skills.

Create a Child-Care Database: Develop an online database that allows parents to find child care, including an interactive map of care, current capacity, vacancies, and quality measures.

Move Away From the Cost Control Framework: Abandon the proposed Cost Control Framework, which could increase parent fees through additional charges and incentivize operators to cater to higher-paying families.