Calgary, Alberta, September 15, 2022 – On September 14, 2022, the City of Calgary moved to implement a mandatory business permit for private unlicensed dayhome operators. Passed unanimously 14-0, this new business permit comes into effect Jan 1, 2023, and will require all unlicensed in-home child care operators to provide a clean criminal record check with vulnerable sector for every adult in the home along with valid first aid for all operators and employees. 

Under our current child care system, there are no minimum provincial requirements in place for Albertans wishing to open a private dayhome, beyond the number of children that can be cared for. This permit will now create barriers to entry in the City of Calgary where none previously existed, helping to showcase quality private care and limiting access to unfit providers. 

Embolden PDC  strongly supports this move by Council to make child care safer in the City of Calgary and we are very encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response that we have seen within our community to date. We recognize that change can be difficult and that this permit will bring additional business expenses for operators starting in 2024. Still, we feel that this is a positive step in the right direction and this new permit will allow the City of Calgary to support private dayhome operators in ways that have not been possible before. 

Embolden PDC feels confident that this permit is not about financial gain for the City of Calgary, but instead it is about prioritizing the safety of Calgary’s youngest citizens while ensuring that all dayhome providers in Calgary are recognized and supported. We welcome this opportunity for private dayhome professionals in Calgary to demonstrate their commitment to quality and safety in their programs with many operators already meeting and exceeding these new minimum requirements. 

We look forward to continuing our advocacy work with the City of Calgary and across the province to help ensure that all children in Alberta continue to have access to safe and quality child care – no matter the circumstances in which they receive that care.