B.C. Government Enacts New Child Care Hours Regulations
The British Columbia (B.C.) government is set to implement new child care hours regulations that aim to alleviate financial burdens on families. Beginning April 1, child care facilities will be mandated to provide a minimum of 9.5 hours of care before incurring additional charges for extra hours. Currently, the provincial government reports that 95% of child care providers already adhere to this standard, prompting a necessary adjustment for the remaining 5%.
B.C. Child Care Hours Regulations
Lisa Beare, the Minister of Education and Child Care, emphasized the significance of this change. “Families deserve predictability and fairness,” she stated. “By setting a clear threshold, we’re closing a loophole to ensure hard-working parents aren’t paying more for a reasonable day of care.” This new approach is expected to strengthen financial protection for B.C. families while allowing child care providers flexibility in meeting community demands.
Child Care Advocates’ Perspective
Child care advocates have welcomed this measure as a necessary step toward comprehensive support for families. Sharon Gregson of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. expressed that this legislation addresses long-standing issues concerning unfair fees. “We have been calling on the province for years to make this change so parents aren’t gouged by unfair extra fees,” she remarked.
Current State of Child Care in B.C.
- Only 10% of child care providers offer the proposed $10-a-day programs.
- Parents in Vancouver may pay up to $3,000 monthly for child care.
Despite the progress, Gregson notes that the provincial government has yet to fulfill its promise of universal $10-a-day child care. The recent regulations are seen as a step toward advancing accessibility and affordability for families in British Columbia.
