gillianpetit.bsky.social
Economist PhD from Ucalgary. Researching Canadian taxes, income and social supports, and municipal policy/regulation. Co-author of "Basic Income and a Just Society". Public policy thinker. Ultra-runner. Mom
110 posts
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oh this looks awesome! My team and I have been having similar discussions.
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You know...I always look for an opportunity to publish a paper where I can mention one of my running adventures or use a sweet photo. I haven't figured out how to work ultra running into public policy/econ paper yet but I'm still young 😜.
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Is it just me or is this website down now? The link isn't loading...
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All of these changes make me worried. Alberta's income and social security programs are being weakened. As we face tariff threats and affordability issues, is this the time? Would it not be better to put in place more supports to brace for economic impacts? #abpoli @albertandp.ca
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A new disability-work program (ADAP): persons on AISH who can work will be moved to ADAP at the provinces discretion. ADAP will provide "increased employment supports". Details on benefits, evaluation criteria, and what those support will be have yet to be released. See: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
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Reduction in eye care coverage: as of Feb. 1, the province is no longer funding partial vision exams for children and seniors, among other changes. This will impact those with eye disease, vulnerable populations, and those living in rural areas. See: calgary.citynews.ca/2025/02/03/a...
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Child care funding: elimination of the (income-tested) child care subsidy and an evening out of child care fees paid by parents, increasing out-of-pocket child care expenses for lower-income families with younger children in day cares. See: substack.com/@gillianpeti...
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The Alberta Escalator: caps increases in AISH, Income Supports, and Seniors Benefits by 2% or inflation, whichever is lower. This will potentially reduce the real value of income supports. See this write-up by @leestevens1.bsky.social at @vibrantcalgary.bsky.social enoughforall.ca/articles/a-c...
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I’m not sure I follow you. Check the sub stack for how I calculated it. It is an out of pocket difference. It’s an increase in the out of pocket expense a parent pays directly to their child care provider plus an elimination of the subsidy- a cash transfer that no longer goes into their account
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Want to know more? Check out my substack on this topic: substack.com/@gillianpeti...
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This change may also affect the labour force participation decisions and career paths, particularly for women. Higher child care costs are associated with lower labour force participation of women. And children have a more negative impact on a women's career trajectory compared to men's.
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Conversely, lower-income parents with younger children in less expensive child care, particularly day cares, stand to lose the most from this policy change in terms of higher child care costs.
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In general, high-income parents with older children in more expensive child care facilities, particularly day homes, stand to gain the most from this policy change in terms of reduced child care costs.
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This figure shows that gains/loss to families by age of child, child care type, and parents income if child care costs $1,100 before the grant.
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This figure shows that gains/loss to families by age of child, child care type, and parents income if child care costs $900 before the grant.
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How it affects families depends on the type of child care facility (day home versus day care), the cost of the child care facility (i.e., before the grant is applied), whether the child is in full time or part time child care, the parents combined income, and the age of the child.
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The UCP announced two changes. First, all parents with children 0-4 in full time child care will pay $326.25 out of pocket regardless of age of child, income, or type of child care facility. Second, the UCP eliminated the child care subsidy.
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Of course all of this depends on the starting underlying child care fee ($1010 for you, $1100 for me). I’ll double check in the morning
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subsidy amount. And it will be almost a wash for parents with children at dayhomes who are eligible for the max subsidy.
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It will bring day care and day home grants to the same level. But it will still have a larger benefit for parents with high income (not eligible for the subsidy) regardless of the child care centre. It will have a negative effect on parents with children at daycares who are eligible for the maximum
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So right now your paying $593 out of pocket plus the $266 subsidy. After the change, you’ll pay $326.25 and no subsidy. You’ll be better off by 0.75. That’s because your child is in a day home and not a day care. The grant is currently lower for day homes than day care. That’s actually a good point…
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Uggg. You just reminded me that tomorrow's a PD day 🫤
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Yes I'm busting open my simulator now. I'll get to the bottom of this best I can. Stay tuned - I hope to have some better numbers by tomorrow!! @lindsaytedds.bsky.social
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Has the UCP done their homework on the distributional impacts? It seems at first blush that higher income households with older-ish (2-4 years old) will be better off while lower income households with younger children (0 - 19 months) will be worse off. #abpoli #Alberta
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Another scenario: same daycare, full time, but child is 18 months old and family income is less than $119,000. That family currently pays $217/month and receives a $266/month subsidy. After the change, they will pay $325.26/month and get no subsidy. Their loss is $345.25/month.
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What about others? Suppose a family has a 3 year-old kid in the same full-time licensed daycare as me and they ARE eligible for the subsidy (income<$119,000/year). Currently they pay $474/month and receive $266/month. After the change, they will pay $326.25/month. They are worse off by $118.25/month
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At first, I was excited. In the spirit of complete transparency, I have 1 kid (3 years old) in a full-time licensed day care (100+ hours/month). I am not eligible for the subsidy and I pay $474/month. A drop to $326.25/month means I save $147.75/month in child care.
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I shared the wrong article, here is the correct one-
thegatewayonline.ca/2025/01/u-of...
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I thought I would do some of these things before having kids. Now that I have kids (and a full time job)...just no. I also don't feel bad. My kids go to public school, watch screens, eat refined sugar, and use polysporin. They are also happy, healthy, and a joy to be with.
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Yesterday (last night) #yyccc unanimously approved recommendations on short-term rentals that were directly built off of two years of extensive research conducted by @gillianpetit.bsky.social, Anna Cameron, and myself under a UCalgary Urban Alliance partnership.