Significant changes were announced to BC’s child care policy on September 23, 2022.
FOR CHILD CARE OPERATORS: The fee reduction process will be streamlined to allow child care operators (both private sector and not-for-profit) to increase their fees by 3% without having to be approved by the BC Government. The BC Government will also provide funding of up to $550 per month per child directly to licensed child care operators.
FOR PARENTS: Starting in December, parents in British Columbia will save as much as an additional $550 per month for each child they have in participating licensed child care centres. The Province is directly funding licensed child care centres so families will not need to apply for these savings. This funding will lower fees for children, kindergarten-aged and younger.
“The changes will enable the private child care sector to deliver care at an affordable rate with reduced red tape,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade. “Now we need to strategically focus on educating early childhood educators (ECEs) working in early learning and child care settings through both private and public education institutions.”
“Affordable access to quality child care is necessary for employees to be able to perform at peak productivity, confident in the knowledge that their children are cared for in a safe learning environment. Child care is an economic imperative.”
-30-
Anita Huberman, 604-634-0342, anita@businessinsurrey.com