$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres
Last updated on March 28, 2024$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres are an important step in the Province’s historic path to making child care a core service that B.C. families can rely on. The positive financial impact on parents with children in these centres is significant, with families paying no more than $200 a month per child for full-time enrolment during regular business hours, regardless of the care type. Some low-income families may even qualify for free child care, through additional funding programs, such as the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB).
Updated $10 a Day expansion for 2023-24
We have expanded the number of $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres with 930 child care spaces moving into the program in March and April, bringing the total number of $10 a Day spaces in B.C. to over 15,000. The Province remains on track to achieve its goal of transitioning 20,000 spaces by spring 2026.
Newly added centres to the program are located in communities that do not yet have access to the $10 a Day program or have a low number of $10 a Day spaces compared to their region’s population density.
All regions of the province and all types of licensed child care operators are represented in the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program, including rural and urban areas, not-for-profits, home-based and sole proprietors, corporations, public institutions, and Indigenous-led child care programs.
More opportunities to join the program are anticipated in the future and more information will be available as opportunities arise.
The $10 a Day ChildCareBC program is one way families are receiving child care savings. In addition, families of over 70,000 children are receiving savings of up to $900 a month per child, through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.
Since 2018, the Province has invested $4.3 billion in the 10-year ChildCareBC plan to build a future where affordable, inclusive and quality child care is a core service that families can rely on.
Additional program information
About the $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres
In 2018, more than 2,500 spaces and 50 $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres were approved for operation through the Canada-British Columbia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (ELCC), providing communities with the opportunity to offer inclusive, affordable child care.
In B.C. Budget 2021, over 4,000 additional $10 a Day spaces were added, for a total of 6,500 spaces by April 2022. By partnering with the Government of Canada through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the number of $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces has more than doubled to 12,729.
Report on the Evaluation and Analysis of $10 a Day ChildCareBC Program
$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres selection
When the program first launched in 2018, over 300 applications for $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres were reviewed to ensure factors such as the diversity of British Columbia’s geography, population, program types and operational models were considered in the selection process. This range of sites helped to provide the ministry with a deeper understanding of what contributes to quality, inclusive care, a well-supported and engaged workforce, and a viable funding model.
In the 2021-22 expansion, over 600 applications were received. Priority was given to non-profit/public organizations, Indigenous-led, and home-based child care. In addition, child care based in municipal community centres and on school grounds was also prioritized. However, all licensed child care facilities were eligible to apply.
The 2022 intake priorities are:
- Larger public, not-for-profit, and Indigenous-led child care providers
- Applicants located in communities currently without $10 a Day child care (or with a low proportion of $10 a Day spaces compared to population density)
- Child care spaces for children ages 0-5. If a facility operates 0-5 spaces and multi-age spaces, they are also eligible to apply for all spaces
Being selected as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre is an opportunity for providers of licensed child care facilities – including not-for-profit, in-home providers and private organizations in all parts of the province – to provide their communities with affordable child care as a core service that families can depend on.
Related links
Contact information
For questions about the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program, please contact us at the phone number below.
1-888-338-6622 (Option 7)
childcarebc.engagement@gov.bc.ca