Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Op-ed: More Child Care Spaces Support Families And Strengthen Economy

Premier John Horgan, 12 Jul, 2019 06:33 PM

    When I think about what child care means for families in B.C., I think of all the patchwork calendars stuck to fridges across the province telling the child care story of each household. The mother-in-law, the uncle and the best friend are on deck this week, and dad will have to leave work early next week. It’s a puzzle of names, dates and times that only the family can understand.

     

    For too long, child care has been so unaffordable and inaccessible that families have been forced to piece together care within their own networks. With the rising costs of housing, transportation and other monthly expenses, and the longer and longer waitlists for child care spaces, families have been making sacrifices to give their children the care they need.

     

    Every parent and caregiver in British Columbia wants to give their child the best start in life. Families who have affordable, quality child care are often able to build their careers, have more quality time with their children and get ahead with their finances. No matter the circumstance, every parent deserves peace of mind knowing that their child is getting safe, quality and affordable care.

     

    Our government is committed to making universal child care a reality in B.C. We are making the most significant investment in child care in B.C.’s history – $1.3 billion over three years – to help families find a way forward each month.

     

    On July 4, we announced, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, that approximately 2,300 new child care spaces are coming to public spaces across the city. The plan will add licensed child care spaces to schools, libraries and community centres.

     

    By partnering with public sector organizations and local governments, we can quickly add child care spaces where they are needed. It gives parents access to multiple services in one convenient location, strengthens communities and provides generations of kids an easy transition from daycare to school.

     

    The City of Vancouver has been forward-thinking in its approach to creating child care spaces. I look forward to working with other local governments in partnership to bring child care to the families in their communities.

     

    These new spaces are all part of our government’s three-year commitment to support the creation of 22,000 new licensed child care spaces around B.C. Already, we’ve funded more than 8,000 new licensed child care spaces across the province, with more spaces announced every month.
    Child care providers can apply for funding to create new child care spaces at any time during the year, through our Childcare BC New Spaces Fund. There are also start-up grants to support unlicensed providers with the costs of becoming licensed and caring for more children.

     

    As we create new spaces in all corners of the province, we are also working on making child care more affordable. Our Child Care Fee Reduction is saving families up to $350 per child, per month for eligible child care spaces. As of July 2019, more than 54,000 spaces are eligible for a fee reduction.
    Our Affordable Child Care Benefit is already saving parents up to $1,250 per month or $15,000 per year, per child. More than 80,000 families are eligible for support with their monthly child care costs through this benefit.

     

    Between the Child Care Fee Reduction and the Affordable Child Care Benefit, almost 18,000 children in B.C. have accessed child care for a daily cost of $10 or less. This includes 7,500 children from low-income households whose families are now paying nothing at all for child care. That’s not including approximately 2,900 children who are attending one of our 53 universal child care prototype sites, where families are paying a maximum of $200 per month, per child.

     

    Our government looks at quality, affordable child care as a social policy and an economic one. It gives children the chance to play, learn and grow in a safe and supportive environment. For parents and caregivers, it means the chance to work and build a career, with the peace of mind that their children are cared for.

     

    Our universal child care plan is part of our commitment to the people of British Columbia – especially young people – that we will do everything we can to bring down barriers to their success. Investing in child care makes our province stronger. That’s good for people, good for communities and good for the economy.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Vancouver Police Arrest 50-Year-Old Man Following Violent West End Home Invasion

    Vancouver Police have arrested 50-year-old Paul Doczi for a violent West End home invasion that sent a woman to hospital with serious injuries the morning of June 14.

    Vancouver Police Arrest 50-Year-Old Man Following Violent West End Home Invasion

    19-Year-Old International Student Stabbed After Fight Over Limo Outside Vancouver Nightclub

    19-Year-Old International Student Stabbed After Fight Over Limo Outside Vancouver Nightclub
    Just before 3:00 , two groups of teens got into a dispute over a limo for hire on Seymour Street near Dunsmuir. The groups did not know each other.

    19-Year-Old International Student Stabbed After Fight Over Limo Outside Vancouver Nightclub

    Fierce Blaze Guts North Vancouver Home, Leaves Resident With Serious Burns

    Fierce Blaze Guts North Vancouver Home, Leaves Resident With Serious Burns
    VANCOUVER — A woman has been badly burned and a large North Vancouver home has been gutted in a pre-dawn fire.

    Fierce Blaze Guts North Vancouver Home, Leaves Resident With Serious Burns

    B.C. RCMP Rolls Out Online Reporting Tool Starting In Surrey On Monday

    Surrey RCMP is set to become the first detachment to test a new online crime reporting tool on Monday, followed by proposed tests in three other B.C. communities later this summer.  

    B.C. RCMP Rolls Out Online Reporting Tool Starting In Surrey On Monday

    Man Who Threatened Montreal Jewish Girls School Found Not Criminally Responsible

    Man Who Threatened Montreal Jewish Girls School Found Not Criminally Responsible
    A Montreal man who was facing charges of inciting hatred online against Jews has been found not criminally responsible due to mental illness but will have to abide by a lengthy list of conditions that include staying off social media.

    Man Who Threatened Montreal Jewish Girls School Found Not Criminally Responsible

    Shutdown, Cuts At B.C. Pulp And Sawmills Add To Forestry Job Losses

    Canfor Pulp says the Taylor mill won't operate from June 29 to Aug. 5, reducing pulp production by about 25,000 tonnes.

    Shutdown, Cuts At B.C. Pulp And Sawmills Add To Forestry Job Losses