EDMONTON – An agreement between “different” governments, the conservative one of Alberta and the liberal federal one, to help families: this is what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney presented today, on the occasion of the signing of the “pact” signed to make childcare services in the province more accessible. Overall, in essence, the fees for kindergartens.
An agreement that makes Alberta the eighth province to formalize this deal with the federal government that provides billions of dollars to set early learning and childcare at an average of $ 10 per day by 2026. The agreement in fact contemplates a federal funding of 3.8 billion dollars over the next five years for a reduction in the cost of childcare.
Speaking in Edmonton today, Trudeau said the pandemic has focused on the need for affordable childcare. “I think one of the things that has really emerged over the past year and a half is that ensuring that we provide adequate support for families, which allows parents to return to work, is incredibly important,” said Prime Minister. “Childcare is not just a social program, it is also about economic growth.”
According to 2020 data from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, Toronto reported the highest average childcare rate at $ 1,578 per month, followed by Richmond Hill (Ontario) at $ 1,327. Calgary was the most expensive of Alberta cities in this respect, at $ 1,250 per month.
Trudeau – who was accompanied by federal ministers Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould – said the Alberta deal shows that two governments with different perspectives on a range of issues can find common ground. “The provinces and the federal government do not always agree on everything and there will always be points of disagreement, but I am really very happy to be here today with Premier Kenney and the Alberta government to show that on the things that matter most to citizens we can do great things” he said.
Kenney said the deal, negotiated by Alberta’s Child Services Minister, Rebecca Schulz (in the pic above), meets the needs of the parents in the province. “All kinds of childcare for children such as daycare and day homes for families will now be supported by this agreement with the federal government” said the premier of Alberta where more than half of the childcare spaces are in private environments.
At this point, New Brunswick, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut remain the only provinces and territories that have not yet followed the lead of the other provinces.