The Government of Alberta is set to make childcare services more affordable through increased grant funding, as of January 2024. (Photo: Pattison Media)

By David Opinko

Childcare fees in Alberta to fall to $15/day on average in 2024

Dec 12, 2023 | 4:36 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta is set to make childcare a little bit more affordable in the new year.

Ashli Barrett, Press Secretary for the Ministry of Children and Family Services, has confirmed to Pattison Media that the province is set to increase funding under the Affordability Grant, which is paid directly to eligible childcare providers.

“To bring parent fees down to an average of $15 per day, Children and Family Services will be increasing funding rates for full-time child care provided at daycares and family day homes in the new Affordability Grant agreement beginning in January 2024,” said Barrett.

She adds that the increase will save eligible families up to $200 per month.

According to Barrett, the greater grants will mean that parents will pay $15 per day on average for childcare in 2024.

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The Government of Alberta has outlined increases to Affordability Grant funding for childcare services, set to take effect in January 2024. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

This comes as the provincial and federal governments work together to lower the fees for daycare and day home services to an average of $10 per day by 2025-26.

READ MORE: Danielle Smith commits to $10 per day daycare by 2026

The $3.8 billion Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement was signed in 2021. It also includes provisions to create 68,700 new, affordable licensed spaces by 2026.

In October 2023, the provincial government announced $28 million in funding to grow the number of privately-operated spaces by 22,500.

READ MORE: Province announces $28 million to create 22,500 new childcare spaces

READ MORE: Child care cost less in 2023, but more parents say spots are hard to find: StatCan

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