Alberta Election Thread - Election Day April 16 2019

[Tyler]

Ah crap, I make too much for this apply to me. Herald article left that out.

Vote rescinded lol

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Tyler

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...box=1553543506

Wow, that's going to be a huge sell for families with young children.

That's gotta be hundreds of dollars per month in savings.

[dsavillian]

Interesting idea on paper. Have there been any studies done on the impact of affordable daycare on a scale that large?

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by dsavillian

Interesting idea on paper. Have there been any studies done on the impact of affordable daycare on a scale that large?

Quebec.

The party noted Quebec adopted fully-subsidized child care in the 1990s and said that’s helped that province increase its GDP by 1.7 per cent by increasing its employment rate by 1.8 per cent.

[Weitz]

Nvm: missed a line the changed the topic to the Alberta Parties plan.

[dsavillian]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Quebec?

Yeah, I just saw the notes in the article - wrote the post before skimming the article.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Ah crap, I make too much for this apply to me. Herald article left that out.

Vote rescinded lol

The NDP one had a cap? I saw in the CBC article it mentioned the Alberta Party's plan.

Under that plan, child care costs for children up to age six would be tied to income, from fully subsidized for those earning less than $29,999 to $30 per day for those earning $90,000 to $110,000.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Wow, that's going to be a huge sell for families with young children.

That's gotta be hundreds of dollars per month in savings.

only if the kid is in a non-profit or family day home.
so at most it will cover just about half the spaces.

[Hockeyguy15]

Boo! We are with a private daycare. Vote not purchased.

[puckedoff]

Me: I want a fiscally responsible party that understands the Province is currently living beyond its means and will be focused on strict budgets to target the debt.

Also Me: $25/day daycare! Yesss!

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Wow, that's going to be a huge sell for families with young children.

That's gotta be hundreds of dollars per month in savings.

There’s a #whatipayforchildcare tag on Twitter with people posting eye-popping totals, worth checking out if you’re interested in that kind of thing.

[Kerplunk]

Subsidized daycare would be great, but it really needs to apply to all the spots in the province right off the start, not just some of them. I would also prefer a sliding scale based off of income rather than a set cost.

[_Q_]

Yeah this $25 a day childcare thing might tip me over to the NDP side.

[Regorium]

Christ why does everything have to be means tested.

Do you not want your high earners to have children and be able to be productive in society?

Edit: NM - the article was quoting the AP plan.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Me: I want a fiscally responsible party that understands the Province is currently living beyond its means and will be focused on strict budgets to target the debt.

Also Me: $25/day daycare! Yesss!

Yup..it amazes me how people are so easily and readily bought off with their own money.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yup..it amazes me how people are so easily and readily bought off with their own money.

Not surprised when some people are paying $35k a year in child care. I couldn't imagine plunking down the median Canadian salary every year for someone to babysit a 4 year old.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Not surprised when some people are paying $35k a year in child care. I couldn't imagine plunking down the median Canadian salary every year for someone to babysit a 4 year old.

The most common reason I see among friends and family to have a parent stay home is because it's cheaper than the alternative of child care.

Having subsidized child care which allows more people to go back to work creates all kinds of benefits, including higher household incomes and better mental health for parents who want to balance a career with home life.

That said, I know it's not a program for everyone and a balance needs to be found, which I believe the Alberta Party finds a good cross-section of (half a Billion less in their program than the NDP). They will also provide a caregiver tax credit and make it easier to create licensed child-care spaces.

[DiracSpike]

Is there not some way to try and make daycare cheaper rather than subsidizing something that's already crazy expensive? Give more licenses and expand the supply of daycares maybe? Maybe there's not I don't know anything about this issue.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think one way would be to encourage business growth and creation of family/daycare businesses through tax credits and incentives, and then let the market decide the availability of spots. Then instead of subsidization they could spend money on quality control and standards so these businesses have to meet strict thresholds.

Either the government subsidizes directly, or they create an operating framework in which the private sector can take more responsibility for this service.

I am for a market-base alternative, although I'm not a parent and I don't really know the situation on the ground like a parent would. It might be difficult to get he right type of care - assuming your child is special needs or something else that requires unique circumstances.

[PaperBagger'14]

I'm not seeing how subsidized childcare can create 43000 jobs. There for sure is a market for it and it's a feel good idea, but I dont see an economic benefit for bringing people back into the work force with the current level of unemployment. Long run it may work but there would be huge growing pains.