COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake is moving forward with a proposal to allow 24-hour childcare services, a change aimed at supporting families with non-standard work schedules.
At the Jan. 15 regular council meeting, officials reviewed an amendment to Land Use Bylaw No. 766-LU-23 to remove the restriction on overnight care at childcare facilities, paving the way for round-the-clock operations.
“The matter before us for the public hearing was first raised on Nov. 26, where council supported the first reading of a bylaw amendment to our Land Use Bylaw, the purpose of which is to allow for a child care facility to operate for 24 hours,” said Andrew Jabbs, manager of Land Use Planning, Development, and Regulatory Services for the City of Cold Lake.
Currently, the Land Use Bylaw defines a childcare facility as a "provincially regulated facility for the provision of care, educational services, or supervision for seven or more children and does not include a family day home or group home," added Jabbs.
The proposed amendment would remove the stipulation that such facilities can only operate during the day or evening, thereby enabling overnight childcare.
The amendment is driven by feedback from local employers and families, particularly those in industries with shift work, who have expressed the need for more flexible childcare options. According to the city administration, the proposed change aligns with the Provincial Early Learning and Child Care Act, which does not restrict childcare operating hours.
Public consultation on the amendment was conducted through the City’s website, but no feedback was received. “We have not received any feedback from the public in support or opposition to the proposed amendment,” Jabbs said.
The revised definition under the proposed bylaw would read: “Child Care Facility means a provincially regulated facility used for the provision of care, educational services, or supervision for seven or more children. This use does not include a family day home or group home,” according to the City of Cold Lake.
With no public opposition reported during the consultation process, the proposed bylaw amendment will proceed to further readings, which are expected to take place at a future council meeting.
