Early Learning and Child Care Parent Engagement Survey

Alberta parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in the Early Learning and Child Care Parent Engagement Survey to help shape child care in the province.

Child care helps drive economic recovery and creates opportunities for families, all while giving parents peace of mind that their children are safe and have what they need to thrive.

To further improve Alberta’s child-care system, starting Jan. 15, parents are invited to share their thoughts on what defines high-quality child care and the services they expect from child-care operators through an online survey. This feedback will help inform future changes to the child-care system.

“Parents want the best for their children so that they can flourish and succeed. Their input on early learning and child care is invaluable and instrumental in ensuring Alberta’s early learning and child-care system is both affordable and meets the diverse needs of families.”

Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services

The survey will run until Feb. 11 and is the latest step in making Alberta’s child-care system more affordable and more accessible under the Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Since entering the agreement, child-care fees have been reduced by an average of more than 50 per cent, putting more than $900 million – $6,600 per child per year – back into the pockets of Alberta parents.

A total of $3.8 billion is being invested over five years through the Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to reduce child-care fees to create a more accessible, affordable, high-quality and inclusive child-care system. As of March 2023, child-care fees reached an average of $20 per day in Alberta and are on track to reach an average of $10 per day in 2025-26. Since entering the agreement, more than 40,000 more children have been enrolled in child care, and approximately 20,000 new licensed spaces have been created.

Engagement sessions were recently held across the province to get input from operators that, together with feedback from parents and guardians, will help develop the new early learning and child-care funding formula and ensure high-quality child care remains an option for Alberta families.

• The survey is available in eight languages, including English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Tagalog, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Ukrainian.

• Parent Engagement Survey
• Space Creation Grant
• Federal-provincial child care agreement