How the Alberta Child Care Affordability Grant works (and what you'll actually pay)

One of the first questions parents ask me is, “What will this actually cost us?” It’s a fair question - childcare is a big part of a family budget. The good news is that Alberta’s affordability funding makes licensed care far more affordable than most parents expect, and the way it works is simpler than people think. Here it is in plain language.

Alberta moved to a flat $15/day fee

As of April 1, 2025, Alberta moved to a flat $15-per-day childcare fee across the province for licensed programs that receive affordability funding - including licensed family day homes like Little Steps. Instead of every program charging a different rate and parents applying for discounts, eligible families simply pay one low, predictable monthly fee.

That fee is set by the province, not by me, and it’s the same at any funded licensed program.

What you’ll pay at Little Steps

Because we’re a licensed, funded program, here’s the actual parent fee:

• Full-time: $326.25/month. For children registered to attend 100+ hours per month (our regular Monday-Friday spot).
• Part-time: $230/month. For children registered to attend 50-99 hours per month.

No registration fees, and home-cooked lunch plus morning and afternoon snacks are included - so there are no hidden extras on top of that monthly fee.

It is not income-tested

This is the part that surprises people most: for children kindergarten age or younger, the flat fee is not based on your family income. Eligibility depends on your child’s age, that they’re registered for 50+ hours a month, and that the program is licensed and receives affordability funding - not on how much you earn.

So you don’t need to “qualify” in the old sense. If your child has a spot with us, you pay the flat fee. (The older income-tested subsidy now mainly applies to out-of-school care for school-age children in Grades 1-6, which is a different situation.)

Other support your family may be able to stack

The flat fee is the big one, but depending on your circumstances your family may also access broader supports like the Alberta Child and Family Benefit. These are separate, income-based programs that help with the cost of raising children generally, and they’re handled apart from your childcare fee.

Is the $15/day fee sticking around?

Parents ask me this a lot, usually because they’ve seen a headline about childcare funding and got worried. It’s a fair thing to wonder about when you’re budgeting a year ahead.

As things stand, yes. In December 2025, Canada and Alberta agreed to extend their early learning and child care agreements to March 31, 2027, with over $1.17 billion in federal funding for 2026-27 specifically to keep the $15-a-day parent fee in place. So the fee you’re quoted today is the fee that’s funded through to spring 2027.

I won’t pretend to know what happens after that, because nobody does. What I can promise is that if the number ever changes, you’ll hear it from me directly and with plenty of notice, not as a surprise on an invoice.

A note on accuracy

Childcare funding is set by the Government of Alberta and does change over time - for example, Alberta has stated a goal of working toward $10/day care. For the current official fees and rules, the source of truth is the Government of Alberta’s childcare fees page at alberta.ca/childcare-fees. I keep our quoted rates current, and I’m always happy to confirm the latest number for your family.

The best way to get a real figure for your situation is a quick call or a visit. Call me at 403-918-8627 or book a visit - no pressure, just clear answers.