Following much deliberation and debate, overnight childcare will soon be possible in Wood Buffalo.
At its June 28 meeting, RMWB Council approved amendments to the Land Use Bylaw, which allow for licensed child care facilities to operate outside of typical daytime hours.
The Bylaw includes a new definition of a child care facility.
“Child care facility means a development licensed by the province to provide personal care, maintenance, supervision, or education for seven (7) or more children for periods less than 24 consecutive hours in daytime and overnight. This definition includes daycare centers, nursery schools and play schools and other similar uses but does not include family day home as defined by Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Act.”
The Municipality will not approve permits for dwellings that house a basement suite, bed and breakfast, boarding house, home business, or a secondary suite.
In 2019, the Alberta government introduced legislation, titled Bill 39, allowing overnight childcare.
The province would set aside $9.7-million dollars for childcare operators in 2021 to create more spaces in support of working families.
This was in response to the federal government’s commitment to provide childcare subsidies to Alberta families by 2025.
RMWB Council also approved the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
