More parents in the Thompson-Okanagan will see dramatic savings as six child care sites are welcomed into the $10 a Day child care program.

At these sites, families will pay no more than $200 per month per child for full-time enrolment during regular business hours.

“The difference affordable child care can make for a family is incredible,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “I’m excited that our government is offering these spaces to more and more parents throughout the Thompson-Okanagan. We all want our children to have a good foundational start, and this allows parents, especially women, to rejoin the workforce in greater numbers and support our economic prosperity.”

In Budget 2021, the Province committed to expanding the number of $10 a Day spaces in B.C. by converting 3,750 licensed child care spaces into low-cost spaces for families. The 309 new $10 a Day spaces in the Thompson-Okanagan are part of this commitment.

“I know there couldn’t be a better time for families to hear that their child care centre is becoming a $10 a Day site,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. “We’ve heard from families that having access to $10 a Day child care is life changing, and when our ChildCareBC plan is fully implemented, no family will pay more than $10 a day for licensed child care. As we work toward that goal, tens of thousands of parents are already benefiting by saving as much as $1,600 a month on child care. Through Budget 2022, more savings are on the way for all types of child care.”

This expansion increases the number of $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces available for families from 2,500 when the program began in 2018 to more than 6,500. By partnering with the Government of Canada through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces will more than double again to 12,500 by December 2022.

“Kamloops Christian School Association is excited to be chosen to be part of the $10 a Day ChildCareBC initiative,” said Sandro Cuzzetto, CEO, Kamloops Christian School Association (KCSA). “As is well known by most residents of B.C., affordable child care is vital to moving our economy forward and this is especially true as we transition out of a pandemic situation. We feel this is an important move that helps us fulfil part of our mission and mandate at KCSA to serve our local Kamloops community.”

In addition to $10 a Day child care investments, Budget 2022 builds on existing provincial funding that helps tens of thousands of families continue paying less for child care, who are saving as much as $1,600 per month per child through provincial investments such as the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit. Already 93% of eligible licensed child care providers have enrolled in the fee-reduction initiative, saving families as much as $350 per month per child.

“This is so good for people and the whole community,” said Bob, parent of a child at the Kamloops Christian School Early Learning Centre. “I want to look through the lens of gratefulness as it changes children’s lives. In the long run, children will do better as the families are supported in a positive way together.”

With new federal investments, the average rate of child care will be reduced by 50% from 2019 levels for children five and younger by the end of this year.

Quick Facts:

• Since 2018, the Thompson-Okanagan has opened 11 $10 a Day ChildCareBC sites, offering a total of 951 spaces.
• Since 2018, the Province has invested $212 million to provide affordable, quality and inclusive child care in the Thompson-Okanagan, including $95 million in direct savings to parents.
• So far in 2021-22, fee reductions have been approved for more than 68,600 child care spaces at more than 3,600 child care facilities in B.C. through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.
• An average of 29,700 child care spaces receive support through the Affordable Child Care Benefit every month. Parents making less than $45,000 can receive 100% funding and those making as much as $111,000 can receive partial funding.

Learn More:

For more information on the $10 a Day ChildCareBC sites, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare10aDaysites

A backgrounder follows.