Hi members; This is my understanding of the 2014 Budget as it pertains to the Child Care Sector. The Child Care 2014 was announced at $288 million (an increase of approximately of $18 million from last year). There were no cuts to subsidy rates, subsidy income thresholds, infant care incentive allowance, subsidy transaction fees, family day home administrative fees, and accreditation funding. The increase in budget does not contain any “new” types of funding but rather will accommodate and maintain the existing funding supports based on: · Increases in the number of child care programs · Increases in the number of children attending programs · Increases in the number of parents being eligible for subsidies · Increases in the number of staff working in child care · Increases in the number of staff certified with higher qualifications $6.4m of the increase is in the line item – Child Care Subsidy and Supports – this is intended to provide additional monies for subsidies for low and middle income families. The scales for subsidy and subsidy rates are staying the same. There are $11.6m new dollars in the Child Care Accreditation line item. It is clear that NO new monies in this amount for increases in the wage enhancements. Some of the monies are allocated to accommodate the reaccreditation of existing programs and the first time accreditation of newer ones. I did ask about the discrepancy between the number of licensed spaces available and the ones needed no clear answer. I appreciate the monies coming into child care and the commitment of the Alberta Government to continue to support the programs in place, but we need a little more either from the province or better yet a Pan- Canadian system that is sustainable and has the capacity to support all children, families and communities who need it.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:36:15 +0000
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