Families in 14 communities throughout the province will benefit from more than 900 new licensed child care spaces that will open this fall, expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care.

“Families throughout British Columbia are seeing new child care spaces open in their communities, giving families real options they can count on,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Education and Child Care. “These spaces mean shorter waitlists, more access to affordable, high-quality child care and peace of mind for parents, knowing children are learning in safe, supportive environments. This is about making life easier for parents today, while investing in stronger communities for generations to come.”

Nearly $34 million in ChildCareBC New Spaces funding was provided to non-profit organizations, local and Indigenous governments to create these new child care spaces. The New Spaces Fund is supported by provincial and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 until 2030-31.

“Canada’s new government, in collaboration with the Government of British Columbia, is creating over 900 new licensed child care spaces across the province,” said Anna Gainey, Canada’s Secretary of State for Children and Youth. “These spots will ease financial pressure on families, allow more parents to choose to join the workforce and strengthen local economies by expanding access to high-quality early learning.”

These new spaces will provide greater access for families that have faced barriers to finding affordable, high-quality child care close to home, such as single parents, families with young children and those living in under-served areas.

“Having access to high-quality child care that we can afford has changed so much for our family,” said Philippa Horton, parent of a child at Lynn Creek child care centre. “It’s helped us find a routine that works and it’s amazing to see my child excited to come here every morning. It’s given us more balance and more peace of mind knowing our son is in a nurturing learning environment where he can thrive.”

Families who attend these centres will benefit from affordable child care fees, through the Province’s fee-reduction program, which reduces the cost of child care by as much as $900 per child, per month. Families that need additional support may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which can bring the cost down to $10 a day, or in some cases, eliminate fees altogether for families that need it most.

Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s space-creation programs have helped fund more than 41,500 new licensed child care spaces in B.C, with 26,200 of these open and providing care.

Quotes:

Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care –

“Every new space represents a family that now has the support they need to balance work, school and home life. For parents who have struggled to find care, especially single moms, this is life-changing. These centres create nurturing environments for children and empower parents to pursue personal goals, strengthening both families and the communities where they live.”

Susie Chant, MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour –

“It’s great news for the community that Lynn Valley has more access to high-quality, affordable child care. I know from experience that Lynn Valley is a wonderful place to raise a family and our government’s investments will support families now and into the future.”

Shaun Wysiecki, president, Parkgate Society –

“As a parent, having access to affordable, high-quality child care has been life-changing for our family. Knowing our kids are thriving, learning and cared for gives us peace of mind and allows us to focus on work and giving back to the community.”

Edith Rock, early childhood educator (ECE), Lynn Creek child care centre –

“There is nothing more exciting than to be welcomed to a new space and to work in a brand-new place. We have much new quality equipment, which helps us ECEs provide quality experiences for children. It is a wonderful feeling to be trusted and respected by families and to be a part of their life.”

Quick Facts:

• ChildCareBC affordability programs are saving families throughout B.C. an average of $6,700 per year on child care fees at more than 160,000 spaces.
• Since 2018, ChildCareBC has kept more than $3 billion in the pockets of  B.C. families.
• No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit provides direct, tax-free support, helping about 3.5 million families every year, including more than 450,000 families in B.C.
• While families can use the Canada Child Benefit however they need, it significantly reduces child care costs for many people, cutting expenses entirely in some cases, due to federal, provincial and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide early-learning and child care system.

Learn More:

To learn about recent new child care spaces on school grounds that opened, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/32703

For more information on ChildCareBC, visit: 
https://www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

More information on the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund is available online:
www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund

For information on how to connect to services and help save money, visit the B.C. Benefits Connector:
https://gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector

For more information about Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care, visit:
https://www.canada.ca/en/early-learning-child-care-agreement/agreements-provinces-territories/british-columbia-canada-wide-2021.html