AFL launches ‘Fair Start’ campaign for Alberta kids and families

The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling on the Alberta Government to implement a universal early childhood education and care system in Alberta.

At an educational breakfast on Tuesday, April 12, dozens of labour activists from 29 electoral districts across Alberta launched the “Fair Start” campaign to take action on improving the province’s early childhood care system. UNA Secretary Treasurer Karen Craik and Local 211 member Denise Palmer, who also serves on the AFL Women’s Committee, were at the launch.

AFL Secretary Treasurer Siobhan Vipond told participants that “all children deserve a fair start in life and investing in early childhood education and care is one of the best ways to achieve this goal.”

Alberta currently has significant limitations in the delivery of comprehensive, universal early childhood education and care. It has the second highest child care fees in the country, the third lowest per capita number of spaces, and relies on an ineffective web of subsidies and tax credits to get parents some support for encouraging participation in early childhood education and care.

“Universal access to early childhood care and education is a key component in our set of social programs that create a productive and healthy Alberta,” Vipond said. “By giving all children a fair start, we all benefit.”

The AFL campaign will continue over the next month with lobby meetings with Members of the Legislative Assembly, a website calling for action (www.fairstartalberta.ca) and public events in Calgary and Edmonton scheduled for the campaign’s end on Mother's Day.