EDMONTON – Alberta’s minister of child services is expressing frustration after a recently announced childcare deal between the federal government and Quebec.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was with Quebec Premier Francois Legault Thursday to announce a $6-billion child care deal.
The money will be given over five years, but the money comes without conditions and Quebec’s government can spend it how it pleases.
Rebecca Shulz says that’s the same deal Alberta asked for from Ottawa only to be rejected.
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“Furthermore, when we asked Ottawa if any province would receive a straight transfer of child care dollars with no conditions attached, we were told no,” Shulz said in a statement.
She says this is dishonest, bad-faith negotiating from the Trudeau government right before an election.
“It’s frustrating to see Alberta parents could be left behind because of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cynical pre-election maneuvering especially given that we are absolutely committed to affordable, accessible child care that meets the diverse needs of Alberta kids and families.”
Shulz says Alberta is hopefully it can get childcare costs in the province down to $10 a day or less for low-income families, which is why it asked for the same flexibility that the feds gave Quebec.
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“With an election call any day, we call on the federal government to give Alberta a fair deal and provide full child care funding without conditions through a signed early learning and child care agreement as soon as possible,” she said.
“Our economic recovery and working parents, especially women across this province, are counting on it.”
