The B.C. government says almost 600 new licensed child-care spaces will become available after the provincial and federal governments teamed up to build nine new centres.
The province says the $74 million in funding provided to First Nations, local governments, and school districts will enable centres to be built in Esk’etemc First Nation, Homalco First Nation, G̱aw Tlagée, Kelowna, Langford, Metchosin, Peachland, Pemberton, and West Vancouver.
“Thanks to our government’s ChildCareBC plan, hundreds more families will be able to access the child care they need, close to home,” said Minister of State for Child Care Mitzi Dean.
The province explains that once the centres are open, they will be included in the provincial fee-reduction program, which it says “reduces the cost of child care by as much as $900 per child, per month.”
The funding comes as the province also announced a new child-care centre in Burnaby Thursday.
The Ministry of Housing says that a new, under-construction, six-storey building on Hastings Street will have more than 160 affordable homes, but will also include 74 child-care spaces.
“Alongside new homes, it’s important to ensure families have access to child care in their growing community,” Dean shared. “These 74 spaces will provide an opportunity for parents to pursue their goals while their children learn and play in a safe environment. This is part of our commitment to make child care a core and reliable service for everyone.”
The Hastings Street building includes units with rent geared to income, market rentals, and “deeply subsidized” rentals for people on income assistance.