Parents, advocates embrace idea of $10/day childcare
By Jalyce Thompson on April 22, 2021.
The federal government announced Monday its plan to invest $30 billion in early learning and childcare services. The government says the national plan will decrease childcare fees by 50% by 2022. By 2026, daily childcare costs are to be $10. Alberta’s pilot project by the former NDP government had the childcare cost at $25 a day at designated places, however it was cancelled by the UCP in 2020. Meanwhile, some local families paying more than $1,000 monthly per kid for childcare. “You ask yourself if it’s even worth going back to work, because the amount you’re making almost doesn’t outweigh the amount you’re paying to send your child to early learning,” says Medicine Hat’s Tracy Studer, who currently pays $2,200 a month for her two children. With a new national plan to be set in action by the federal government, Studer says local families look forward to the support while they struggle through COVID and eventually try to recover. “There is a lot of uncertainty. We’ve seen so many job losses before COVID, and then with COVID you don’t know what’s going to happen,” says Studer, adding childcare allows for dual income, which gives parents the opportunity to potentially save for future setbacks like a pandemic. “It’s hard for families to get ahead, and affordable childcare could definitely help with that.” This federal investment only continues if the offered partnership with provinces is accepted. The federal government is asking provincial governments to go in 50/50, so in order for this plan to move forward, provincial governments must agree to invest. With concern about Canada and Alberta’s deficit, some are unsure if this is the right course of action to take. “At this stage the provinces are begging for more health transfer funding, and now the federal government is asking for provinces to contribute,” says Glen Motz, MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner. “How can Alberta be in a position to find the money it will cost Alberta to do this? “There are families that can benefit from it, but it’s a problem in this province, and in many provinces, who have nothing more to give.” In her budget announcement, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the budget is for middle class Canadians, and to bring others up into the middle class. “I have confidence that we are a country that believes in investing in our future, in our children and in our young parents,” Freeland said before announcing the childcare and early learning plan. Medicine Hat and District Child Care Association co-ordinator Jennifer Usher says this plan would serve well for families in Medicine Hat, especially those who are in the middle bracket and don’t qualify for subsidy. “We would definitely see more parents, especially women, return to work sooner since it makes childcare more accessible to families,” says Usher. Single parents can be especially vulnerable during the pandemic, especially if their childcare cost subtracts a higher percentage of their wage. “There are some families that wouldn’t have the option to go back to work if the cost of childcare outweighs their wage,” says Studer. Usher says with this plan being a five-year process, those who follow along will look for more details of how it will all work in the days and years to come. 19-18
