I raised my family in Edmonton. To make a city that truly works for everyone, we need to make sure that families are being taken care of and supported. I will create a Child Care Strategy that will do just that.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of my goals as Mayor will be to reinvigorate Edmonton business to get our economy performing at its maximum. A robust Child Care Strategy is fundamental to this goal to ensure that Edmontonians are confident that their children are safe and thriving when they are away.

Make no mistake: funding child care is a provincial and federal responsibility. But there are ways Edmonton can be a partner in child-care initiatives. I will focus on advocating the federal and provincial governments to make child care and early learning more affordable and accessible.

Here’s how we can improve child care services in Edmonton.

Make Child Care Accessible

The 15-Minute City concept I support is all about quality of life and increasing access to amenities in your neighbourhoods. Using the Zoning Bylaw as well as current and future development plans, and guided by the spirit of a 15-Minute City, we should endeavour to embed child care facilities in all communities. Geography should never be a barrier to access to quality child care.

We already have city-owned and operated assets throughout the city and we can foster partnerships with providers to create more child care opportunities throughout Edmonton by using city-owned space. 

It is also imperative that we recognize that many in our city do not work Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 jobs, and that those who do work different hours than the supposed standard still require quality child care—and their children certainly deserve it. A city for everyone will not leave these folks behind, and a comprehensive Child Care Strategy will consider how to provide flexible spaces, including 24-hour care, that meet the needs of all families.

Make Child Care Affordable

Quality child care can come at a cost that is simply too high for many families in our city. Raising children is among the most important work that is done within our communities, but if it is not the wish of both parents to leave their roles outside of the home to be full-time caregivers, then safe, quality, and affordable child care should be within reach for every family in Edmonton.

We owe it to all Edmontonians to increase the number of affordable child-care spaces. I would target greater collaboration between school boards, local non-profits, and community organizations and child-care providers to increase the number of affordable child care spaces. 

Make Child Care Effective

Our city boasts two phenomenal school boards, a world-class library system, and innumerable after-school programs provided by the City of Edmonton and community groups, cultural centres, and other non-profits. There is incredible variety in after-school programming and the breadth of programming should be celebrated and embraced.

To ensure that child care is effective across the city, a Child Care Strategy should consider ways to encourage and coordinate programs between these services and have them speak to one another so that:

• Services are not being duplicated;
• Children requiring more intensive or more specific supports are identified and referred to the appropriate provider, and;
• We can develop a complete and accurate directory of extant opportunities so that access to services is equitable no matter who you are or where you live.

I want to provide the people of this city with opportunities and choices they might not currently have. Opportunities to participate in our economy, and the ability to choose how they participate. For some people, caring for their children limits their choices. Let’s make Edmonton a city where you have MORE choice, not less.