More parents in Surrey and Langley will have the option to return to work, go back to school or pursue other opportunities as the Province invests in more than 285 new licensed child care spaces, about 200 of which are expected to open by the fall. 

“Reliable and affordable child care is essential for parents and families,” said Megan Dykeman, MLA for Langley-East. “Every additional investment our government makes in child care results in more help for parents and family members, and more opportunities for children to socialize and learn. These new spaces in Surrey, Langley and across the province are excellent news.”

The Province is supporting five projects to create 287 new licensed child care spaces in Surrey and Langley. In addition, 43 projects have also received funding in Surrey and Langley since the launch of Childcare BC in July 2018.

“As we enter the fourth year of our 10-year Childcare BC plan, thousands of families are already feeling the life-changing impact of having affordable, quality and inclusive child care,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. “As we continue to build towards an inclusive universal child care system, these new spaces will make it easier for parents, especially mothers, to pursue their own goals, while also being part of B.C.’s economic recovery.”

New child care spaces are on the way for families in the following communities: 

• Surrey (112 spaces)
• Langley (175 spaces)

“The child care spaces at Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary will help families in one of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in Langley,” said Rod Ross, board chair, Langley Board of Education. “This is an opportunity for us to provide pre-kindergarten and school-aged child care for families close to their home, to foster the physical, mental and social development of their children.”

The Province has funded almost 26,000 new licensed spaces since the launch of Childcare BC – more than 6,000 of which are now open.

An additional 4,370 spaces, funded through the 2017 Budget Update and the Early Learning and Child Care agreement with the Government of Canada, takes the total number of new child care spaces funded since July 2017 to more than 29,300.

Quick Facts:

• Since July 2018, almost 26,000 new licensed child care spaces have been funded in British Columbia, including 2,040 in Surrey and 818 in Langley.
• The Childcare BC plan has helped parents save up to $1,600 a month, per child, for a total of more than $770 million through the Affordable Child Care Benefit and Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.
• As a result of these investments, parents in Surrey and Langley have saved more than $91 million and nearly $25 million, respectively.
• Early childhood educators in Surrey and Langley have received nearly $8.5 million in wage enhancements combined.

Learn More:

For information on health and safety standards for child care during COVID-19, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/ChildCareCovid-19Response  

Child care factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/18430

For more about Childcare BC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

A backgrounder follows.