The Child Care Gap: Why B.C.'s Stalled Affordability Plan Penalizes Parents
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As B.C. lags behind other provinces in universal child care, the lack of fee caps and available spots creates a systemic barrier for parents attempting to enter the workforce.
Q: According to recent data, how does British Columbia's child-care affordability compare to the rest of Canada?
A: As CBC News first reported, B.C. is currently lagging behind other provinces in providing universal affordable child care. A report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that of the 35 Canadian cities studied, the five located in B.C. were the most expensive. While some parents are seeing monthly savings of $300 to $500 due to a 2021 funding deal with Ottawa, David Macdonald, a co-author of the report, notes that parents in provinces with fee caps are saving significantly more.
Q: Which provinces have successfully implemented fee caps, and how do they compare to B.C. prices?
A: CBC News reports that six provinces and territories—including Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut—have capped child-care fees at $10 a day. Additionally, Alberta has a maximum fee of $15 a day, and Ontario has a cap of $22 a day. In contrast, B.C. has no fee caps, leading to infant fees that range from a median of $28 a day in Kelowna to $52 a day in Richmond.
Q: What are the real-world consequences of this system for parents trying to secure care?
A: The lack of stability and availability is severe. Ella Dalling, a Vancouver mother and founder of the platform Little Scout, told CBC News she placed her daughter, Murph, on approximately 20 waitlists before her daughter was born, yet the nine-month-old still does not have a spot. Dalling notes that because there are no fee caps, monthly costs can fluctuate wildly between $200 and $2,000, forcing parents to accept any available spot regardless of the cost. Dalling further stated that the crisis has reached a point where families are deciding whether they can afford a second child based on daycare availability.
Q: Why has the B.C. government not reached the $10-a-day target, and what is the current official stance?
A: Sharon Gregson of the $10-a-day Child Care Campaign describes the B.C. NDP government as "laggards" who have stalled on the issue, a sentiment echoed by former NDP cabinet ministers. However, B.C. Child Care Minister Lisa Beare stated that the government has placed a three-year pause on the expansion of the $10-a-day program. Beare expressed concern over structural inequities, arguing the current program functions as a "lottery system" rather than being based on need. She stated the government is now working with the federal government, providers, Indigenous partners, and families to design a more sustainable and inclusive system.