Alberta Childcare Fees: What the Flat $326.25 per Month Means

What this is and who manages it

Childcare fees in Alberta are reduced through provincial 'affordability funding'. Families pay childcare fees directly to their provider, not to the Government of Alberta. This falls under the Alberta ministry responsible for children and family services. The Childcare Connect toll-free helpline is 1-844-644-5165.

Where the $15 per day comes from

On November 15, 2021, Alberta and the federal government announced a $3.8 billion federal-provincial agreement to reduce childcare fees for parents.

In January 2022, fees were reduced from $44 per day to an average of $20 per day, a reduction of over 50%.
In January 2024, Alberta lowered fees further to an average of $15 per day.
As of April 1, 2025, Alberta moved to a flat $15 per day childcare fee across the province.

The flat parent fee

If your child is kindergarten age or younger and attends a licensed daycare or family day home that receives affordability funding, you pay a flat parent fee:

Full-time care (100 or more hours per month): $326.25 per month
Part-time care (50 to 99 hours per month): $230 per month

When the flat fee does not apply

Families are not eligible for the flat parent fee if:

their program does not receive affordability funding;
their child is registered for less than 50 hours per month; or
their child attends full-time kindergarten or is older than kindergarten age.

For under 50 hours per month, no funding is provided and the program sets the parent fee.

Eligibility for affordability funding

Affordability funding is available for children who meet all of the following criteria:

are kindergarten age or younger;
are attending childcare during school hours if they are kindergarten age; and
are registered to attend an eligible licensed daycare, family day home or preschool for more than 50 hours in a month.

Not all childcare programs are eligible. The official page states that when looking for a provider, you can ask if they are licensed and eligible to receive this funding to reduce your fees.

Preschool and out-of-school care

Preschool: Licensed preschool providers receive up to $100 per child per month in affordability funding to reduce fees. Preschools can set their own monthly parent fee, which must be inclusive of all additional fees.
Out-of-school care: Fees vary by provider. This type of childcare is not eligible for affordability funding under the federal-provincial agreement. However, families with children in full-time kindergarten to Grade 6 may be eligible for reduced fees through the Child Care Subsidy Program.

Optional services and fees

Providers may offer optional services for an additional fee, as long as participation is voluntary. Official examples include:

meals and/or snacks
transportation
field trips or on-site experiential learning
cultural activities or specialized classes
extended hours or overnight care
supplies (for example, diapers, sunscreen)

These fees are in addition to monthly parent fees and must be optional. Families must have the choice to opt in for each service, and programs cannot offer preferential access based on ability to pay.

For extended hours and overnight care:

Extended hours: care provided outside of the regular hours of 6 am to 6 pm during weekdays, including evenings or weekends.
Overnight care: care provided between 12:01 am and 5 am.

Programs must have the required licensing approval before charging supplemental fees for these hours. Childcare must not be provided for more than 24 consecutive hours.

Relationship to the Child Care Subsidy Program

Affordability funding is an operating grant to providers that lowers parent fees. The Child Care Subsidy Program is a separate program for families. Alberta families may also be eligible for other supports listed on the official page:

Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB): tax-free payments to lower- and middle-income families with children under 18.
Alberta Child Health Benefit (ACHB): free health coverage for children in low-income families, including dental care, prescription drugs and eye care.
Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD): information, referrals and funding for children with disabilities and their families.

The official page states there may be other services available; call Alberta Supports toll free at 1-877-644-9992. The contact centre is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 8 pm.

For providers: how to receive affordability funding

A program must be licensed before it can receive affordability funding. The official steps are:

Determine eligibility: contact Childcare Connect at 1-844-644-5165.
Create an account on the Childcare Licensing Portal. After a program's license is approved, it receives an email invitation. A licence holder or legal representative must create an account to access and sign an Affordability Grant agreement.
Sign the Affordability Grant agreement: once an account is verified, the representative is notified by email that the agreement is available for digital signature on the portal.
Submit monthly claims: after signing, programs can submit monthly claims through the portal's online claims system. The official page states programs receive affordability funding payments within 10 business days of submitting a claim.

The official page also states that programs are required to submit financial reports, and programs that do not submit financial reporting as required will not be able to sign future agreements. This may also be identified as a breach of the agreement, which could impact funding and/or lead to termination.