“I’m excited to be announcing that we are building thousands of child-care spaces throughout B.C., including more than ever before for Indigenous communities,” Conroy said. “Too many B.C. families are struggling to find child care. These new spaces will offer relief and hope to parents.”

Families in 52 communities throughout British Columbia will benefit from 103 projects that will create more than 3,800 child-care spaces. This $33-million investment is focusing on areas of greatest need, including infant and toddler spaces; spaces on school grounds or co-located in a community hub; inclusive spaces in child-development centres; Indigenous child-care spaces; and employer-based spaces. More than half of these spaces are being delivered by non-profit organizations, and 20% are from Indigenous child-care providers.

“We are speeding up the creation of new child-care spaces to address years of pent-up demand for child care,” Chen said. “Our February budget will show our long-term commitment to building a system of accessible, affordable and quality child care for families across the province.”

The Province is working with successful proponents to establish funding agreements. Construction and renovations for the majority of the approved projects are expected to begin shortly. However, each site’s timelines for completion will differ, depending on their individual proposal requirements.

“The Provincial Child Care Council is working closely with the ministry to guide them towards improving access to child care,” said Wayne Robertson, PCCC chair. “Council members are energized by the new focus on fixing the child-care crisis and I think that the future is looking brighter for B.C. parents.”

Quick Facts:

• Child-care major capital funding supports non-profit and private child-care organizations to:
  • Build a new child-care facility, including the cost of buying land or a building.
  • Purchase and assemble a modular building and develop a site.
  • Renovate an existing building.
  • Buy eligible equipment (including playground equipment) and furnishings as part of the new build or renovation.
• The projects include 61 new builds and 42 renovations to create:
  • 847 infant and toddler spaces.
  • 535 spaces in Indigenous communities.
  • 1,153 spaces on school grounds.
• Budget 2017-18 committed $352.5 million for child care.
• As part of that commitment, the ministry provides $92 million in child-care operating funding directly to child-care providers to help them keep costs down, so fewer costs are passed on to parents.

Learn More:

For more information about child care in B.C., visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

If you are a child-care operator and would like more information about funding, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcareoperatingfunding

For a backgrounder, click here: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/CFD_Childcare_BG_Dec_4_2017.pdf