Ottawa will provide an additional $1.17 billion to Alberta in order to extend the federal-provincial subsidized child-care program for another year.

The previous agreement was set to expire April 1, 2026. The new deal will run through March 31, 2027.

Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu announced the new deal alongside Alberta Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides on Friday afternoon.

Hajdu described affordable, high-quality child care as not just a benefit to children but also "an economic tool" that saves families thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars annually and lets more parents participate in the labour force.

"When parents can find good, reliable child care, they can work, train or build a business," she said.

Nicolaides called the deal an "i

See Full Page