1942   Alberta signed the Dominion-Provincial Agreement with the federal gowvernment but did not establish child care centres. The need for child care was refuted by an advisory committee.

1966  Community Day Nursery, the first centre to receive public funds, was opened in Edmonton. The Preventive Social Services Act delegated decision-making authority for child care to municipalities and introduced 80/20 cost-sharing arrangements with participating municipalities. Public and non-profit centres were able to receive subsidies for eligible low-income families.

1971  The Alberta Association for Young Children was established.

1978  The Social Care Facilities Licensing Act included the first legislated child care regulations and changed funding from supporting child care program grants to fee subsidies for low income families.

1980  The provincial gowvernment took over the municipal share of funding of subsidies and administration of care services for children up to 6 years. Operating allowances (operating grants to non-profit and for-profit child care centres) were introduced.

1981  Standards were established for family day homes.

A policy was developed and special funding authorized for an Integrated Day Care Service (integration of children with special needs into mainstream programs).

1990  Alberta's first staff qualification requirements were introduced. Focus on Children, a report of the Office of the Commission of Services for Children, calls for more local control of children's services. An announcement was made that operating grants would be phased out within the year.

1992  Policy recommendations for child care centres were developed by the Parent Advisory Working Committee and some were adopted by the provincial gowvernment.

1994  A 3-year Budget Plan effectively suspended the continued implementation of 1990 funding reforms. The gowal of the 3 year budget plan was to reduce provincial child care expenditure by $14 million or 20% over 3 years. A report by the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman identified inadequacies in the regulatory system in Alberta. It recommended improving procedures for complaint investigation, compliance management, and investigating serious occurrences.