Support for Children

Vision: A city that gives every child a fair start and every parent a fair chance.

Policy Priorities:

• Create the Edmonton Youth Opportunity Fund to support after-school programs, mentorships, arts, and athletics — prioritizing underserved areas.

  • Any child, boy or girl, should be given every opportunity to pursue any sport they wish, including the “more expensive” ones like hockey, and figure skating with community and city-driven funding/ donations of equipment, even if used equipment for the start-up of such programs

• Subsidize childcare for low-income families by leveraging provincial/federal funds and repurposing City-owned spaces for new childcare centers.

• Expand City-run youth employment programs, with guaranteed paid summer work for teens aged 15–18 through public projects and partner businesses.

• Open Youth Wellness Centres co-located in libraries or rec centers, offering homework help, career support, and mental health drop-in access.

• Make transit free for all youth under 18, to increase independence, school attendance, and family affordability. Explore possible modest fare increase for ages above 18 to fund.