Alberta’s government has always advocated for an agreement that works for Alberta’s mixed-market system. For the first time under the Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, licensed family day home agencies can apply for funding through the province’s $50-million Child Care Space Creation Grant program.

Alberta’s government supports parental choice in selecting the licensed child-care provider that fits their family needs, which is why the government is making sure parents have access to thousands more affordable child-care options.

“Parents across our province deserve access to safe, affordable and high-quality child care that works for their family. By expanding the space creation grant to licensed family day home agencies, we will create new child-care spaces in communities with limited or no child-care options, including small, rural and remote areas. This will help reduce licensed child-care fees and make high-quality child care affordable and flexible for Alberta families.”

Mickey Amery, Minister of Children’s Services

Opening up funding to licensed family day homes through a unique made-in-Alberta plan will support the creation of up to 5,500 additional new licensed child-care spaces. This will move Alberta closer to its goal of creating 68,700 new affordable child-care spaces by 2026.  

Applications are available immediately for funding of up to $1,350 per space for licensed family day home agencies to recruit, train and support new providers as well as to help these new providers with startup costs. 

“We know that a strong early learning and child-care system will drive economic growth, increase women’s participation in the workforce, and offer each child in Canada the best start in life. The additional child-care spaces made possible through this grant program will allow more children and families across the province to access high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care.”

Karina Gould, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

Family day home agencies play a critical role in providing child care to parents, particularly in small rural and remote communities. Encouraging the creation of more family day home spaces is another step to make sure parents continue to have a choice of child-care options that work best for their family.

“Licensed family day homes are essential to the success of the Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and are pleased to be recognized in the expansion of the Space Creation Grant program. The inclusion of licensed family day homes to access funding will be an important recruitment tool. The funding can help offset startup costs for day home educators, incentivize unlicensed homes to become licensed, and increase accessibility to affordable licensed child-care spaces for families, particularly in rural and remote communities.”

Sonia Grams, co-chair, Alberta Family Child Care Association

The funding also aims to encourage unlicensed family day homes to work with a participating, licensed family day home agency to provide affordable child care to Alberta families.

Quick facts

  • Family day homes approved through a licensed family day home agency may be eligible for the affordability grant to reduce parent fees.

  • Any family day home not currently associated with a licensed family day home agency may be eligible for the funding upon being approved by a family day home agency.

  • Parents who choose to place their child in a family day home working under a licensed family day home agency may be eligible for further child-care subsidy.

  • Alberta is on track to meet the commitment in the Alberta-Canada Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to reduce child-care fees to an average of $10 a day by 2026.