By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Governments of Canada and Alberta to improve quality, affordability early learning and child care across the province

Apr 12, 2018 | 2:41 PM

OTTAWA –  The federal and provincial governments have announced a 3-year agreement to help Alberta parents with early learning and child care needs.

The agreement allocates just over $136 million over three years to Alberta for early learning and child care investments, which will focus on increasing access to quality, affordable, and inclusive child care through the expansion of Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centres across the province.
 
Similar bilateral agreements have been made with eleven other provinces and territories.  The Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework agreements will provide $1.2 Billion over the next three years, for early learning and child care programs, which will provide an annual report on their progress.  

In 2017, Alberta launched 22 pilot ELCC Centres, based on a maximum fee of $25 per day.  The new funding, will add up to 78 additional ELCC Centres across the province, for a 350 per cent increase.

Provincial Children’s Services Minister, Danielle Larivee, will announce the locations of the additional centres in the near future.