B.C. could be doing more to lower childcare fees: report

A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives suggests that B.C. could be doing a lot better at lowering childcare fees.

Economist David MacDonald says fees at five B.C. cities and 32 other cities across Canada were used to put the data together.

Vancouver and Kelowna have seen fees reduced by 50 per cent, but McDonald says the reduction only seems like so much because Vancouver’s “$10 a day” childcare centres balance out the number of people paying well above the median fee.

“Surrey, Burnaby, and Richmond have seen reductions, but they’re further away from that 50 per cent reduction,” he explained, noting reductions are more commonly in the 20-30 per cent range depending on the city and the child’s age group.

“Parents are paying a lot more than the median we’re reporting here.”

MacDonald’s data shows that Richmond has the highest median fee for infant care, while Toronto has the most expensive toddler care.

His report further suggests B.C. take a closer look at lowering these fees across the board in order to get closer to $10 a day childcare — which meets a long-term goal set by the federal government for 2025-26.

Among other ideas, McDonald recommends lowered fees varying by age, an example already set by seven of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories — five of which have already met the federal $10 a day goal.

“One of the recommendations of the report is to move to a set fee for the provinces and territories that don’t have one yet just so you’ve got a lot more equality between what parents are paying,” he said.

After a set fee is in place, MacDonald says rates could be gradually ratcheted down to $10 per day.

B.C. is among three provinces MacDonald identified as being behind in reducing childcare fees.

B.C. says childcare fee plans are on track

On the other hand, B.C.’s Minister of State for Child Care Grace Lore says $10 spaces in the province are increasing, and maintains that average fees across B.C. have dropped by 50 per cent.

According to Lore, a plan for reducing these fees is already in place and has been since 2017 and it accelerated when the province’s most recent government came together and a partnership with the federal government was formed.

She says over 79,000 B.C. families are saving up to $900 every month, while another 13,000 families are accessing $10 per day childcare.

“We’ve been investing in childcare for B.C. families because we know that access to affordable quality childcare is life-changing … we’re going to continue those investments and ensure that folks across the province can ensure childcare,” she said.