B.C. families could see child-care fees cut by as much as $550/month
B.C. families paying for child care could soon save hundreds of dollars each month, provincial officials announced Friday.
Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen, Minister of Education and Child Care Jennifer Whiteside and federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould made the joint announcement Friday morning.
The child-care officials said parents with children under the age of three in group care will see the biggest savings with fees being reduced up to $550 per child each month by Dec. 1.
Parents with children aged three to five could see fee reductions up to $445 monthly. Those with children in kindergarten receiving before- and after-school care could save up to $220 per month.
Savings will be higher for families accessing group care than for those using family and in-home care.
Chen explained the province first focused the reductions on "where fees are the highest," which tends to be for young children under the age of five. It's expected the fee reductions will be expanded to all school-aged children next September.
"To all the parents, I want to tell you that, as a mother myself, we feel you … we understand that child care is critical for our economy for our children and for our families' well-being," Chen said during Friday's announcement.
The province said it'll work directly with child-care providers, so parents won't need to apply to get lower fees. The new savings aren't income-based and officials estimate families of about 69,000 children will benefit from the fee reductions.
The B.C. government announced new child-care savings on Sept. 23, 2022. (Province of BC)
"Child-care costs are often the cost of another mortgage. They're often more what you're paying out-of-pocket than what your take-home pay is in a month," Gould said Friday.
Child-care providers will be able to raise their fees, but by no more than three per cent of the typical fee being charged by similar providers in their region.
By the end of the year, parents with kids in kindergarten and younger are expected to pay an average of $21 per day. The province said that's down from an average of $53 a day before any of its ChildCareBC supports were implemented.
MORE $10-A-DAY SPACES COMING
In June, the province announced its $10-a-day child-care program will expand through a partnership with the federal government. At the time, the province said, $10-a-day child care spaces would grow from around 6,500 in the province to 12,500.
Applications for those spaces were reviewed on a rolling basis and were accepted until mid-August.
Officials said Friday the province is on-track to offer these child-care spaces.
'STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION'
The First Nations Leadership Council said in a statement Friday it applauds the work the province is doing to reduce child-care fees, calling it "a significant step in the right direction."
Many First Nations people find themselves at the bottom of the economic ladder in Canada. Unfortunately, for them, child care and preschool have been an unreachable 'luxury,' which they could simply not afford," Cheryl Casimir, First Nations Summit political executive, said in a news release.
"This increased funding will allow all First Nations parents, no matter how low their income, to send their children to preschool and daycare, inclusive of First Nations’ culture and language."
Members of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations said more work needs to be done to improve access to child care in rural, remote and reserve communities.
"We look forward to engaging with the province to discuss distinction-based funding opportunities and supports for First Nations on reserve wanting to establish licensed child-care facilities," Chief Terry Teegee said in a statement.
The province said its new child-care savings are being funded through a five-year, $3.2 billion Canada-B.C. Canada-wide early learning and child care agreement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Mexican authorities say thieves killed 2 Australians and an American to steal their truck
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.