Need, not luck: B.C. parents react to reduced childcare fees

Many B.C. parents are paying less for childcare with new fee reductions in place this month, but some families tell CityNews they wish there were more people benefitting from $10 a day spaces.

Some parents say there’s no rhyme of reason to who gets to benefit from the program, noting her preschooler doesn’t but the infants at the same centre do. She says none of this comes down to which families need the savings most.

“It’s heartbreaking how many people could really have used that and those people didn’t get it. Meanwhile, it’s just like, luck of the draw, if your daycare centre happened to apply for you, good for you. Otherwise, sorry,” Vancouver mom Lyndsay Roberts explained.

“It’s mind blowing to me, how many people I know that are struggling financially in this city, and they didn’t get those spots, the $10 a day spots.”

She’s still happy to be saving money and seeing childcare going in the right direction.

Premier @Dave_Eby is in Richmond with PM @JustinTrudeau talking about the additional reduction to child care fees announced in BC yesterday. The PM saying "BC has met its joint goal with the federal government to reduce average childcare fees by half. "#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 2, 2022

Michelle Kearn, who also lives in Vancouver, says she also wishes the spots — of which there are nearly 9,000 in B.C. — were given to people based on need.

Despite this, she says costs going down for her family and friends is welcome news.

“Four out of five of us are going to be affected by these reductions, which is, I think, great. I know it’s not across the board yet, but it really feels like it’s happening to me, like there is movement in it,” she explained.

“We definitely need this care but there are so many other families that need care.”

The province says 69,000 children are benefiting from new care fee reductions.

As of Dec. 1, parents are getting a discounted rate for every child they have in a licensed child-care facility. Officials believe parents will be able to save as much as $550 per month, per child. Based on a sliding scale, the older the child, the fewer the savings.

Related articles:

• Child-care fees cut for B.C. parents Thursday

• Too many B.C. children shortchanged by government support, advocate says

The changes mean parents with children between the ages of three and five could see reductions of up to $445 a month. Families with children in kindergarten who are registered in before- and after-school care will see monthly reductions of $220 on top of earlier cuts of $100.

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Premier David Eby, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould, and B.C. Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen, to announce the reduction of fees for families with children five and younger.

“We know families in B.C. are struggling with the cost of living, and a lot of parents are worried about making ends meet heading into the holiday season,” Chen said. “With parents in B.C. now saving as much as $900 per month on their child care fees, we know that British Columbians are feeling the benefit of our government’s efforts to make life more affordable. This is bringing us another step closer to $10-a-day child care for all families that need or want it, and helping families get ahead.”