Today, Canada and British Columbia announced the creation of more than 30,500 new licensed childcare spaces since the launch of ChildCareBC in July 2018 through provincial and federal investments.

These additional licensed childcare spaces will help grow British Columbia’s early learning and childcare system, allowing more children and families across the province to access high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and childcare.

To support the goal of ensuring access to quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and childcare, the Government of Canada will contribute $3.2 billion for childcare in British Columbia over five years through the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

This is in addition to the over $323 million provided through the 2021–2022 to 2024–2025 Canada–British Columbia ELCC Agreement, which includes $49.2 million through a one-time investment in 2021–2022 to support the early childhood workforce.

Through these investments, the governments of Canada and British Columbia are working together to improve access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and childcare programs and services, with the goal of ensuring that British Columbia families have access to regulated childcare for an average of $10-a-day by March 31, 2026, instead of the current average fee of $46-a-day.

To increase the supply of childcare spaces, British Columbia will create 30,000 new regulated childcare spaces for children under age six by 2025–26, and an additional 10,000 regulated childcare spaces by 2027–28, bringing the total of new regulated spaces to 40,000 by 2028.

Learn More:

Learn more about ChildCareBC.

Read more about the New Spaces Fund.

Access details on the latest New Spaces Fund projects throughout B.C.

For more about Toward $10-a-Day: Early Learning and Child Care.