Ottawa is providing an additional $1.17 billion to Alberta to extend the subsidized child-care program until March 31, 2027, after the previous agreement was set to expire in April 2026. Federal Minister Patty Hajdu emphasized the economic benefits of affordable child care, while Alberta Minister Demetrios Nicolaides called the deal an “important bridge” for a more sustainable agreement. The initiative has significantly reduced child-care costs in Alberta, maintaining an average of $15 per day. Despite criticisms and administrative challenges, the new deal aims to create 68,700 subsidized spaces by March 2027.
