The Government of Alberta made a big announcement today (December 19) as they will be expanding their $25 a day child care pilot program.

"The expansion will create an estimated additional 78 ELCC (Early Learning and Child Care) Centres, bringing the number to 100 across the province," said Minister of Children's Services Danielle Larivee.

Larivee said Phase 2 of the program is being funded by the Federal Government and will create affordable spaces for 4,500 more kids in Alberta.

The additional centres will be chosen through an application process. Interested groups will need to submit an Expression of Interest. Chosen centres will be announced in early 2018.

Larivee said the expansion of this program is extremely necessary, and gave an example of one of the most expensive prices in Calgary.

"Certainly the number, 1,300, is well within the norm for what it would cost for a single child to be able to access child care. Which is the cost of a mortgage payment for a lot of families and that's for one child. Clearly, for many parents, that's not acceptable to access quality care and that's what this program is all about."

For more information of the expansion to the Early Learning and Child Care program you can visit the Government of Alberta website.

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com