A relief for many Kootenay and Boundary families with additional $10-a-day child care space and funding for new child care centres on the way.
Local NDP MLAs Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette have welcomed today’s announcement in an area causing significant stress in their communities.
“Having access to child care is a game-changer for parents, and an economic development for communities” says Brittny Anderson, MLA for Kootenay Central.
“Investing in new child care spaces is one more way we’re making it easier to for families to grow and thrive in rural communities.”
In Balfour, 24 brand new spaces will open that will be operated by the Balfour Recreation Commission at Cedar and Stars Early Learning Centre, and 110 new spaces will be operated by the Town of Creston (facility name is still TBD) through the New Spaces Fund.
Additionally, 25 spaces at the Castlegar & District Kids’ Club, run by Kootenay Family Place, and 26 spaces at Sunshine Children’s Centre in Trail, run by the Trail District Day Care Society, will be converted to the $10 a Day ChildCare BC program.
“Affordable and accessible child care is a key ingredient in thriving communities, I know that from my experience as mayor,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee.
“It’s amazing to know that more people across the region and the province will be able to access reliable child care for just ten dollars a day.”’
In the Boundary, an additional eight spaces will be opening up Little Lakers Learning Centre, run by Little Lakers Learning Centre Society, in Christina Lake.
Across BC, families will soon be benefiting from 770 new $10-a-day spaces at 22 child care centres. Spaces in the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program reduce the average cost of child care for children ages 5 and under from $1,115 a month for full-time, centre-based care to $200 a month for the same service, saving families an average of approximately $915 a month per child.
“As we face economic threats and British Columbians struggle with rising costs, we are continuing to make critical investments in child care,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Education and Child Care.
“By increasing access to child care and saving families thousands of dollars per year, we’re helping hard-working British Columbians and securing a stronger future for our province today.”
More than $62 million is being invested to create more than 750 new licensed child care spaces throughout B.C. through the accelerated space-creation programs.
Once operational, these spaces will be eligible for the government’s fee reduction program, ensuring affordability for families.
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