More affordable daycare is coming to Vancouver.
The B.C. government Friday announced 53 “prototype projects” across the province, eight in Vancouver, where childcare will cost families no more than $200 a month. The project is being funded by an investment of $60 million through the Early Learning and Child Care agreement with the federal government.
In all, parents of about 2,500 children, more than 300 in Vancouver, will be eligible for the reduced rates.
The announcement is a major step in the province’s 10-year childcare plan announced earlier this year.
“We are finding new ways to make it easier for families to get by every month and to save for the future,” Premier John Horgan said in making Friday’s announcement. “Through this kind of action, where we significantly reduce the cost of childcare, we can make like more affordable for so many B.C. families.”
Under the program, childcare providers at the new “prototype” sites will receive additional government funding to cover their operational and administrative costs. In return, they will reduce parent fees to a maximum of $200 per month for full-time enrolment during regular hours. The sites will also share feedback with the provincial government to help inform future implementation of universal childcare.
The eight prototype sites in Vancouver are: Frog Hollow Neighbourhood Satellite Daycare, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Hastings Park Child Care Centre, Langara Child Development Centre, Bob and Kay Ackles YMCA Nanook House, Woodwards YMCA Child Care, Emma’s Early Learning and Care Centre and Hummingbird Under Tree.
The sites were selected after a call for applications in June. Priority was initially given to sites offering infant and toddler spaces, however the government expanded eligibility to include other types of licensed child care.
“Prototype sites give us a glimpse of what the future of universal child care in B.C. can be, and are critical as we design and refine our program moving forward,” said Katrina Chen, B.C.’s minister of state for child care.
“They build on the work we’ve already done to bring affordability relief to thousands of families through universal fee reductions and the Affordable Child Care Benefit.”
@JessicaEKerr
