Calgary daycare chain hits parents with 'optional' $330 meal fee while prohibiting outside food

Parents with kids in a Calgary daycare chain say they feel taken advantage of after new provincial rules took effect on April 1 that set a flat monthly rate of $326 for basic care but also allow operators to charge any amount on top of that for "optional" services.

In practice, the parents say, the new $330-per-month "meal service fee" at Clever Daycare hasn't actually been optional.

"There's no outside food allowed in the facility, and therefore we're not able to opt out of the meal fee," said one parent, who didn't want to be identified because she worries speaking out might get her kid kicked out of the facility.

Another parent said her child used to be allowed to bring some light snacks in the morning but was told this week that was no longer allowed.

"They didn't let him eat his snack and they said no outside food," she said. "It was never an issue before. We used to do potlucks."

CBC News has agreed not to identify the parents, in order to avoid potential repercussions for their kids.

The parents recently received a new "Clever Daycare Parent Handbook," which includes a non-disparagement clause and warns that the operator "reserves the right to immediately terminate a child's enrolment" if parents violate the policy.

Daycare says rules 'unclear,' possibly contradictory

A spokesperson with Clever Daycare said the province's new regulations have "areas that still remain unclear" and noted meal services are also governed by other "health and safety protocols" under Alberta's Public Health Act.

"At Clever Daycare, our policy is to mitigate serious allergy risks, prevent cross-contamination, and uphold consistent food safety standards," Ahad Daneshvar said in an email to CBC News.

"This policy has been key to protecting children with life-threatening allergies, and changing it would significantly increase risk and liability. The E. coli outbreak in Calgary daycares in September 2023 highlighted how lapses in food handling can lead to severe health risks for children."

He noted the final report from the review panel that investigated that incident recommended all child-care providers be required to develop an "outside food" policy but that the province "should allow for flexibility across individual facilities."

"It is not recommended that such policies are strictly prescribed in government legislation," the report reads.

"As such, we are actively engaging in conversations with government stakeholders to advocate that allowing optional parent-provided meals undermines both the intent of current regulations and the review panel's clear direction for risk mitigation and proactive food safety management," Daneshvar said.

Clever Daycare operates three facilities in the city: in Glamorgan, Aspen Woods and the University District.

Daneshvar also said the company was awaiting "clarification" from the government on the new rules and informed parents on Wednesday that, in the meantime, it will cover the cost of the optional fees for the first week of April if they wish to opt out of them.

The province told CBC News, however, there is no grey area when it comes to this.

"Under the new regulations, providers may offer additional, optional services such as meals or diapers, but parents must be able to opt in or provide their own," Matt Jones, Alberta's minister of jobs, economy and trade, said in an email.

"Charging a meal fee while prohibiting outside food is not permitted, nor is charging a materials fee for diapers while requiring parents to use only the provider's supply."

Why Alberta changed its rules

Prior to April 1, in order to qualify for funding under the federal-provincial child-care agreement, daycares were limited in how much they could raise fees and were restricted from introducing additional fees beyond what they were already charging.

In addition to setting a flat base fee of $326 per month, the new regulations also allow for new fees to be charged for "optional services" such as field trips, food, transportation and certain goods like diapers and sunscreen.

"Parents must have the choice whether to participate in and pay for an optional service," the province said in a "What's Changing" fact sheet for operators.

The guidelines also specifically prohibit charging for operational or administrative services such as technology fees, toy fees or nap fees.

The province has said the new rules are aimed at making parents' costs more consistent and predictable, while also giving operators more flexibility.

Clever Daycare previously charged a $185 monthly meal fee, and parents say they have received no explanation for the nearly 80 per cent increase to $330.

'You're really kind of stuck'

Prektsha Tam took her kid out of Clever Daycare after she grew frustrated by its fee policies. She still worries about how Alberta's new rules will affect other families at daycares across the province.

"Lower income families now have to pay more than what they were paying before," she said, referring not just to the introduction of optional fees but also the loss of the income-based child-care subsidy, which ended April 1.

Tam says she was lucky to snag a spot in a brand-new daycare that just opened this week — and doesn't charge a meal fee — but she recognizes not all parents have a readily available alternative if they want to switch operators.

"There are super full waitlists everywhere," she said.

One of the parents whom CBC News agreed not to name said she's been looking around for other daycare providers but hasn't been able to find any with available space. 

"So you're really kind of stuck where you are," she said.

Tam said the federal-provincial child-care agreement has brought daycare costs way down for parents, but she wonders if these latest changes have been effectively communicated.

"I think what the government is doing is good," she said. "But I think there needs to be more clear-cut instructions."

Opt in or opt out?

In its email to parents on Wednesday, Clever Daycare said it was awaiting a new document from the government with more specific guidelines "that should help child-care providers and parents better assess how optional services should be managed."

In the same email, it opened the door to allowing outside meals but put the onus on parents to not only opt out but actively explain how they would do so.

"If you do not wish to receive these services moving forward, we kindly ask that you officially email your centre director by the end of this week [and] … clearly outline how you will be managing the services yourself (e.g., providing meals daily)."

The government document with the additional guidelines, however, is now posted online and it specifically prohibits this approach.

"Participation in optional services must be voluntary, and parents must actively opt in," the guidelines say. "Automatic enrolment approaches that require a parent to opt out are not permitted."

The new rules are part of the final phase of the federal-provincial child-care agreement, which ends March 31, 2026. 

Eight provinces and three territories have signed on to a new federal child-care agreement that will see them receive nearly $37 billion in funding from Ottawa from 2026 through to 2031. Alberta and Saskatchewan have not.