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Province announces expansion of affordable child care program

Apr 25, 2018 | 12:22 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB —The Alberta government is expanding its $25 a day child care program, and several centres in Medicine Hat will be part of the program.

The province announced the expansion in Edmonton today, almost one year after the original pilot project was announced for 22 centres. The expansion now includes 100 centres across the province.

Premier Rachel Notley said the announcement will cover any family interested in the subsidized child care.

“Each child care centre will manage their wait lists in different ways and they will manage their application process in different ways,” said Notley. “But, anybody who is at that child care centre would have access to the $25 a day cap.”

In Medicine Hat, the subsidized child care will be available at both YMCA locations, Mother Nature’s Pre-School and Pitter Patter Child Development Centre, and will impact 225 current spaces.

Pitter Patter board member Khirsta McDowall said this means some families will no longer have to decide between work and their kids.

“I think it’s exciting for families that couldn’t afford child care, that now they can go back to work, be in the workforce, and provide for their families in different ways,” said McDowall.

Along with offering the subsidized rate, McDowall added Pitter Patter will be able to extend their hours and partner with community groups like Saamis Immigration thanks to additional funding.

Hayward is expecting more applications for YMCA child care services, but said they still decide on clients on a first come, first serve basis.

“They have to be folks that are in good standing with the YMCA, so they can’t have any past credit issues or things like that,” said Hayward. “But beyond that, as long as they’re interested and complete our registration paperwork, we’re happy to take them on the waiting list.”

Some of centres, like Mother Nature’s, will become a non-profit to facilitate the change.

Owner and operator Sherry Jean said that move will help grow their program.

“It’s going to allow me to access funding, apply for grants,” said Jean. “And, my parents are going to actually be able to have an affordable child care program, which is something that we’ve lobbied for many years.”

The subsidized spaces will be available as early as next month, with the majority switching over by June.

Hayward added wait lists may get longer for service providers in Medicine Hat, but said this will even the playing field for all parents.

“It’s all about the level of service that people in the community can expect, and now it’s making child care affordable to everyone,” said Hayward.

Both the YMCA and Mother Nature’s Pre-School are currently full, while Pitter Patter will be adding eight more spaces for September.

The province says the expansion will create 6,000 additional affordable child care spots in Alberta.