January 30, 2025
Edmonton Chamber Applauds $15-a-Day Child Care as a Win for Business and Working Families
January 30th, 2025
EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (ECC) welcomes the Government of Alberta’s move to introduce flat $15-a-day child care, a significant win for businesses, working mothers, and Alberta’s economy. By making child care more predictable and affordable, this policy will help increase workforce participation, reduce barriers to employment, and support business growth.
“Affordable childcare isn’t just a social policy—it’s smart economic policy,” said Heather Thomson, Vice President, Economy and Engagement at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. “When parents are forced to leave the workforce due to high child care cost and lack of availability, businesses lose talent, productivity declines, and economic growth slows. Just like roads and transit connect workers to jobs, child care is core infrastructure that keeps our economy moving.”
The Chamber thanks the Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, Matt Jones, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada, for this important step toward making childcare more accessible, predictable, and affordable for Alberta families. However, affordability alone is not enough—increased investment is needed to expand child care spaces to meet the needs of Alberta’s growing population.
We hope to see continued investment in expanding child care spaces to meet the needs of Alberta’s growing population so that every family, regardless of where they live or work, has access to high-quality, reliable child care. Increased workforce participation means higher employee retention, a stronger talent pipeline, and greater economic stability—all of which benefit businesses and communities across the province.
A stronger child care system means a stronger economy. Increased workforce participation leads to higher employee retention, a larger talent pipeline, and greater economic stability—all of which benefit businesses and communities across the province.
The Chamber looks forward to working with government and industry partners to support the successful implementation of this policy and ensure Edmonton remains a leader in workforce development and business growth.
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For further information or to discuss this issue, please contact:
Akanksha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications and Public Relations
Phone: 780-616-7153 | Email: abhatnagar@edmontonchamber.com
About the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
For 135 years, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has championed growth, innovation, and profitability in Edmonton’s business community. Representing members ranging from small businesses to large enterprises across all sectors, we advocate for their interests at all levels of government, fostering a thriving and sustainable business environment. To learn more visit www.edmontonchamber.com/about
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