The City of Calgary licensing dayhome and home-based childcare operators come 2023, in an effort to ensure minimum standards of child care are met within the city.
The introduction of the licensing in the new year is a result of the unanimous decision made by Calgary city council in September.
Operators offering temporary care for six or fewer children, under 13-years-old, and not including the operators children for more than six hours per week, will require a municipal license.
Operators caring for more than six children, providing overnight care, or who have more than one employee will continue require a provincial family day home agency license instead of a municipal one. Nannies, babysitters, and informal child-care arrangements will continue to be exempt from licensing.
“The municipal home-based child care licence was designed to address a gap where child care operations do not require provincial licensing. The business licence confirms home-based child care businesses meet the industry standards required for quality of care,” said Mike Van Ham, Leader of Business Approvals for the City of Calgary.
Among the new minimum standards to obtain a license from the city are requirements to be trained and certified in first aid and CPR, and police vulnerable sector searches conducted for providers, employees, and anyone over the age of 18 who lives in the home.
“Safe, quality childcare not only protects our children but also enables parents, especially women, to pursue educational and employment opportunities,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
“As a City, we have an obligation to protect the safety of children, and that’s why we’re regulating home-based child care providers in the same way other types of businesses that serve vulnerable people and pets are regulated.”
Municipal operators, unlike their provincially licensed counterparts, may not qualify for the Government of Canada’s child-care subsidy.
Private home-based care businesses that applies for a license between now and March 16, 2023 will have their licence fees waived. And any operators who applies between December 27 and March 16 will not have to pay fees for any police vulnerable sector searches.
After March, new licensing fees will be $172, with $65 for the first adult vulnerable sector search, and $55 for each subsequent search.
The City of Calgary said they will be offering a two-and-a-half month grace period to allow for operators to continue while going through the application process.
“Sharing information about the new licensing requirements now, ensures home-based child care providers have ample time to prepare,” said Van Ham.
