Batten issued the following statement in response to the UCP government’s child-care announcement
For immediate release
January 30, 2025
Diana Batten, Shadow Minister for Children and Family Services, issued the following statement in response to the UCP government’s child-care announcement:
“It’s about time the UCP government did the right thing and quit dragging their heels on moving forward with the federal government’s $3.8-billion child-care plan.
“The UCP government has underfunded child care for years and has failed to set providers up for success. This UCP government has never demonstrated a real commitment to the principles of affordable, quality, accessible child-care.
“Rather than making life more affordable for Alberta families this is a government that cancelled the made-in-Alberta $25-a-day child-care program, increased costs to child-care operators and parents and then former Minister of Children’s Services Rebecca Schulz had to be dragged by Alberta families to sign the federal deal.
“When the federal government announced this program, the target was for $10-a-day child care but the minister’s delay in participating has made that target unachievable and caused a lot of stress and anxiety for Alberta child-care operators and parents, not to mention an uneven system where some parents paid more than others for additional fees.
“The Alberta NDP will continue to advocate for affordable, universal, quality, and accessible early learning and child care for all Alberta families and children so that all Albertans can thrive.”
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Media contact
Kirk Heuser, Press Secretary
Alberta New Democrat Caucus
587-643-7680