Frustration is mounting among child-care operators in Alberta over the province’s handling of the child care industry, with some considering opting out of the $10-a-day child-care program, according to the Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs (AACE).

Following a tense town hall meeting that left many child-care operators feeling ‘let down,’ concerns have been raised over the government’s ability to implement a program that would ensure the quality and sustainability of the industry.

During the meeting, the province announced its intention to distribute a survey to operators to gain a better understanding of the costs associated with running a child-care center. Operators were informed that failure to comply with the survey could result in the withholding of their affordability grant payments.

Krystal Churcher, chair of the AACE, emphasized that child-care operators are willing to provide financial documents to benefit the program. However, their primary concern lies with the threat of payment cuts if they do not adhere to the survey requirements. Churcher questioned why the province had not taken action sooner, especially considering the program has been in effect for three years.

‘We can see from the national rollout over the past three years that there is a lack of understanding at any level of government about what it takes to operate a sustainable, high-quality child-care center,’ Churcher stated.

‘The notion of a mandatory survey accompanied by the threat of losing grant access for parents in your center did not sit well with operators.’

In November 2021, the province entered into an agreement with the federal government to implement the $10-a-day child-care program by 2026. The five-year, $3.8-million deal aimed to reduce child-care fees for Alberta parents, expand the number of child-care spaces, create and fund child-care options for vulnerable populations, and support licensing programs.