Date: November 3, 2026
The True Post (Web News)The Alberta government has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening safety measures, transparency and regulatory oversight in daycare centres and childcare facilities across the province.
Under the proposed legislation, childcare providers would be required to inform parents about serious incidents involving children, safety concerns, allegations of abuse and regulatory violations. The government also plans to introduce stricter background and professional record checks for individuals applying to operate daycare facilities.
The proposed changes are included in Bill 35, the Education and Child Care (Securing Parental Involvement) Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, which seeks to amend the Early Learning and Child Care Act.
The legislation is intended to help identify potential risks earlier, ensure parents receive important information and improve the overall standard of childcare across Alberta.
Stricter Checks for Daycare Licences and Renewals
If approved, the legislation would give the government greater authority to assess applicants when issuing new daycare licences or renewing existing ones.
Authorities would be able to examine applicants’ experience, financial capacity and previous compliance records with other regulatory bodies.
The measure is intended to help officials identify potential risks before granting a licence and determine whether individuals or organisations meet the required standards for providing safe childcare.
Daycare Centres Will Be Required to Inform Parents About Serious Incidents
Under the proposed amendments, licensed daycare centres and approved home-based childcare providers would be required to inform all relevant families about significant violations and government enforcement actions.
This would include administrative penalties, changes to daycare licences and special conditions imposed on existing licences.
The government’s childcare licensing team would also be authorised to direct daycare operators to notify parents following a serious incident that results in the implementation of a ministry-approved safety plan.
Such incidents could include criminal allegations involving the abuse or neglect of children.
Safety Plans Must Be Implemented and Made Available to Parents
Safety plans have already been used in Alberta’s childcare sector. However, the proposed legislation would make compliance with these plans a legal requirement.
The plans would also have to be made accessible to parents so families can understand what measures are being taken to protect children following a serious incident.
Daycare operators would be required to display information about these plans prominently within their facilities and communicate relevant details to families through email or mobile applications.
If a particular child is known to have been directly affected by an incident, that child’s parents would have to be notified separately and as quickly as possible, rather than waiting for general communication with other families.
Government Could Contact Parents Directly if Daycare Operators Fail to Notify Them
Another significant proposed change would allow the provincial government to contact affected families directly if a childcare provider is unable or fails to inform parents about a serious incident, safety concern or regulatory violation.
The legislation would also allow authorities to conduct virtual inspections and monitoring in specific circumstances when an immediate in-person inspection is not possible.
Stronger Oversight of Early Childhood Educator Certifications
The proposed legislation also includes changes to the certification system for early childhood educators.
The government would receive additional authority to establish expiry dates for educational and professional credentials and set requirements for their renewal.
These changes would help the Ministry of Education and Child Care maintain an updated record of active and qualified educators across the province.
The government says the measure would also help ensure that individuals responsible for caring for children continue to meet professional standards.
Education Minister Says Children’s Safety Remains the Top Priority
Alberta Education and Child Care Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said parents deserve confidence that their children are safe and receiving quality care.
According to the minister, the proposed changes would strengthen oversight of licensed childcare facilities, provide the government with better tools to identify and address problems, and ensure families receive clear and timely information when serious incidents occur.
Childcare Organisations Welcome the Proposed Changes
The proposed legislation has received support from representatives of childcare organisations.
Robert Geer, president of Kepler Academy, welcomed the changes, saying transparency, accountability and quality care are fundamental to building trust with families.
He said strengthening oversight and professional standards represents an important step towards improving child safety.
Larissa Wrens, vice-president of Alberta Kids & Company, also welcomed the proposed improvements to the monitoring of educators’ professional certifications.
She said qualified and properly trained educators are essential to delivering quality childcare, adding that parents should have confidence that their children are receiving appropriate care in a safe environment.
The government has clarified that not every detail of every serious incident will necessarily be shared with all families.
Decisions about disclosing information will take into account the privacy of children and families, ongoing investigations and applicable legal requirements.
Consultations with legal experts and law enforcement agencies will also continue as the government works towards implementing the proposed changes.
