More parents on Vancouver Island will see dramatic savings as 13 child care sites are welcomed into the $10 a Day child care program.

Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, have issued the following statement in recognition of Community Social Services Awareness Month, March 1-31:

Young people in government care will have access to new and increased supports until the age of 27.

Budget 2022 is making life better for families through investments in child care that will improve access to child care, reduce costs for parents and build the spaces families need.

The Province is investing $20 million in one-time grants to help licensed child care providers meet the challenges of additional pandemic-related health and safety costs, while also supporting access to inclusive, quality and affordable child care.

The Province is distributing up to 250,000 rapid antigen tests to government-funded child care providers throughout British Columbia for use by child care professionals with COVID-19 symptoms.

New early learning and child care legislation, which became law Oct. 27, 2021, will help the Province deliver on its 10-year Childcare BC plan to build an affordable, quality and inclusive early learning and child care system for B.C. families.