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February 16, 2023

The numbers say it all

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.
February 9, 2023

Keep big box child care in its box

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.
February 8, 2023

GNWT Further reduces child care fees for families and increases funding for licensed operators

Excerpt: "Effective April 1, families with children attending licensed early learning and child care programs will receive an increase in their Child Care Fee Reduction subsidy from the department of Education, Culture and Employment, which will reduce their total child care fees. Previously, through the Canada-wide Canada-NWT Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (Canada-wide ELCC Agreement) the GNWT was paying an average of 50 per cent of child care fees, which will now increase to an average of 60 per cent. Also, licensed programs will be able to increase their fees by two to six per cent, depending on the total fee rates being charged by that program for infant and preschool spaces, and by a flat rate of $10 per month for out-of-school."
February 8, 2023

GNWT releases final budget of the 19th Legislative Assembly

Excerpt: "We have implemented the first steps toward more affordable licensed early learning and childcare programming in the territory, with the goal of reducing families’ childcare costs to an average of $10 a day by 2026. This initiative is supported through federal funding and with proposed funding of $10.3 million in 2023-24 we are aiming to increase access to high-quality, inclusive, affordable, early learning and childcare spaces. The new investment will make childcare fees more affordable for families while providing early childhood educators with increased professional learning and post-secondary opportunities."
February 6, 2023

Speech from the Throne

Excerpts: "In December 2022, child care costs were reduced again, this time by as much as $550 more a month for each child, or over $6,000 a year in additional savings. This has been life changing for many parents. ... And this fall, the significant child care savings your government delivered for children who are kindergarten age and younger will be extended to parents with school age kids."
February 3, 2023

More children will be supported with inclusive child care

Excerpt: "The Province is committed to creating a future where inclusive child care is a core service that families can rely on by embedding inclusion and equitable access into all aspects of child care in B.C., and by partnering with the federal government to expand supports for children with support needs. This additional investment of $31.8 million in 2022-23 was provided through the 2021-2026 Canada-B.C. Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and the bilateral 2021-2025 Canada-B.C. Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. This funding will increase the number of children getting the support they need to fully participate in child care settings, while helping to build inclusive child care capacity by training child care providers."
Image of Kate Amato (MA CCP student)
February 1, 2023

Kate Amato

Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical & Counselling Psychology
Expected year of graduation: 2023
January 31, 2023

More options for affordable, accessible child-care spaces

Excerpt: "Agreement on the Cost Control Framework and For-Profit Expansion Plan with the federal government was a next step to creating more child-care spaces in Alberta. Now, up to 22,500 additional licensed private child-care spaces may become eligible for funding supports over the next three years for a total of 68,700 new licensed child care spaces by the end of March 2026. These supports will help increase access to child-care across the province and reduce child care fees for Alberta parents. Of the 22,500 new spaces created, up to 1,600 private spaces may be eligible for funding almost immediately, with up to 2,000 more eligible as soon as licensing requirements are completed, a move that will reduce parent fees for more Alberta families. The remaining spaces will be created by 2026, as part of Alberta’s commitment to ensure increased access to licensed child care for families across the province."