Child care receives financial boost from province

Children's backpacks and shoes are seen at a CEFA (Core Education and Fine Arts) Early Learning daycare franchise, in Langley, B.C., on Tuesday May 29, 2018. An estimated 776,000 Canadian children live in areas of the country parched of available daycare spaces, suggests a new report that outlines the statistical flip side of high child care costs in some parts of the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Some relief is on the way for the child care sector in Alberta.

The province announcing close to $18 million in grants for child care centres and approved family day home agencies to ensure they are ready to safely restart and support families through Alberta’s economic recovery.

Day care centres and out-of-school care centres will benefit from a phased approach for these supports.

Phase 1 sees centres receive a one-time grant to cover up to 25 per cent of overhead costs like rent and utilities.

Phase 2 will see centres receive a grant for cleaning and sanitation supplies to adhere to public health guidelines, as well as to assist with staff recruitment and training while Phase 3 involves a third grant, after centres have been open for three months.

As of May 5th, child care centres have reopened in 29 towns and cities across the province to support essential workers.

Child care is available for essential service workers at Klorious Kids Day Care.