The Federal Government is making it very clear to us, that their plan is to make it harder and harder for owner run centres like ours to continue to run and remain financially viable. Their goal is to create a public child care system across Canada. The Government is encouraging community groups to open not for profit programs (42,500 spots in hand picked spots across Alberta), all using tax payer dollars ($5000 - $6000 per spot created) to fund the renovations of said programs. And from 2022 - 2023, they have frozen grant, subsidy and wage top ups for all owner run centres who wish to expand or open new locations. Even if we wanted to assist in meeting the current high demand, we cannot, because the Government thinks only not for profit centres should be able to do this at current.

It has been made clear that our province does not have the capacity to build this many not for profit programs as it stands. All the while, other potential owners are ready to invest their own funds (not that of taxpayers) to build out their own programs to meet this demand, but they can’t. They are told that a small amount will be allowed in 2023, but only if they sign into a cost control framework, thus - they are basically a not for profit, Government directed business. For a province that is so proud of supporting entrepreneurs and women in business, this move is embarrassing. 

Some programs have over 200 children on their waiting list. Why is this? Because the Government won’t let entrepreneurs support our community. None of us can grow to meet the demand because it is not feasible to expect parents to pay full fees and not be able to access subsidy. We cannot afford to hire staff without the wage top up as this makes up a large part of their wages so we can keep fees more affordable for parents.

It should also be noted our Government would not fund centres who had already signed into leases and began renovating new centres because they could not apply for their license in time to get this funding - so they are struggling heavily right now.

We have come together to create a group to share our message with the public, as the media and some other organizations portray owner run child care centres in unrealistic ways. We need people to understand our true purpose for doing what we do, and that is PASSION, and that owner run centres allow for a greater diversity in care options for your children. 

It is the parent’s job to choose which centre they want for their child, this is not the Government’s job. Owners work tirelessly to create an incredible experience for the children, families and staff, and we want to keep doing that for years to come. 

60% of child care facilities in Alberta are owner run. If we lose out - our economy will suffer, much like it did in Quebec when they did this exact thing to them many years ago.

Our field is also suffering with a shortage of quality candidates to fill our open positions. The Government needs to step up and professionalize our field, much like other provinces already have. Educated, passionate, Early Childhood Educators are essential to strong outcomes for children - the science has spoken!

We call upon the Alberta Ministry of Children Services to reconsider their position on the following three issues.

While many families have received financial benefit of childcare Affordability Grants and Subsidies, many families sit on the sidelines unable to access these grants, as either spaces are not readily available, or their childcare provider was declined the ability to offer the spaces with grants. 

We call upon the Ministry of Children Services to immediately change their mandate, and offer all grants, to all families, on an equal basis.

The government of Alberta is influenced by Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal government, dictating how childcare is to change in the future. A one size fits all approach is being proposed which will limit true parental choice.

We call upon the Ministry of Children Services to counter Ottawa’s directive, telling them that the future of the childcare industry in Alberta is not negotiable and parents alone will decide by having a wide variety of choice.

Rather than spending 18+ million tax payer dollars per year on auditing child care programs for funds that should be given directly to parents, we demand that the government fund the parents directly, much like Quebec does, and instead uses these audit funds to focus on staff attraction and retention. Early Childhood Educators are critical to the positive life trajectory of each child in their care, this has been proven time and time again. It is high time they are treated as such!

We call upon the Ministry of Children Services to redirect funds to staff attraction and retention measures.

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