The Ministry of Children and Family Development has created 22,000 new licensed spaces over the next three years.
The spaces are meant to be more affordable and private-sector, non-profit and public sector child care providers can access the funding.
“Too many parents are dealing with a lack of good options when it comes to child care, and that’s only made worse as spaces close due to financial pressures on child care operators,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. “With our Childcare BC plan, we’re letting operators and parents know that government is on their side, and investing in their future. Creating these new spaces is the latest step in making child care more available and affordable for more families.”
As part of the $221-million investment in Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, which replaces Child Care Major Capital Funding Program, the government is looking at existing facilities to expand on for B.C. families.
The government will also look at expanding quality child care by addressing wages, recruitment and retention for early childhood educators.
Funding preference will be given to communities who have fast-developing urban centres, and indigenous, rural and remote communities. There’s no word on how many spaces will be created in Prince George.
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