The story of my family feels typically Vancouver. My wife and I are young professionals who, while not originally from this city, are hoping to stay here. But we’re not sure we will.

Media Release May 2, 2017   Statement on Child Care in Schools: 

The recent Supreme Court ruling on classroom size and composition means that there will now be more teachers and smaller classes in BC schools. That’s great news! But, as a result, recent news stories indicate that some school-based child care programs are being shut out of their existing space in schools to meet the increased demand for classrooms. Once again, the BC Liberal government failed to prioritize and plan for the needs of BC families in these child care programs.

Here's our response to two common questions about making access to affordable, quality child care a reality in BC.

Child Care in BC today is in chaos. Sky high parent fees. Spaces for only 20% of children. Poorly paid caregivers leaving the field.

The broadly supported $10aDay Child Care Plan is the made-in-BC solution. It’s based on the best global evidence that highlights the need for public funding to lower parent fees, increase the number of licensed spaces and raise caregiver wages and education.

Below we examine each major party’s 2017 election platform to determine how they align with the $10aDay Plan. We’re looking for concrete, costed and accountable action in all 3 areas – parent fees, licensed spaces, caregiver wages and education.

With 10 year federal funding now confirmed, we’re also looking for a vision and long-term strategy for achieving high quality, affordable child care for all who need and want it.

The differences in the party platforms are striking! Help BC families now:

• Share this information on Facebook & Twitter.
• Join our Thunderclap campaign to send a clear message that on May 9th, we'll be voting to make affordable, quality child care a reality in BC.
• Tell your MLA candidates how much child care means to you.
• Encourage friends and family to vote.

#VoteChildCare! 

I had some sense that finding child care would be difficult, so at the very beginning of my pregnancy I started calling everywhere. It was very stressful to be pregnant be told that there was no space. Nobody was able to tell me there would be a space. I just heard “Maybe,” “You’re on the waitlist,” “You never know.” I didn’t know if I could go back to work.

12 Flawed Child Care Statements by the Fraser Institute:

Summary of Rebuttal from Quebec Economist Pierre Fortin 

Fortin examines the 12 statements made by the Fraser Institute (FI) in a recent assessment of Quebec’s child care program. Fortin finds their underlying arguments are so flawed that the publication is “an affront to the standards promised by the Fraser Institute’s website” and “a policy analysis disaster.”

Fortin’s critique of the FI report incorporates a broad range of up-to-date, peer-reviewed research and public reports that confirm the multiple benefits of Quebec’s child care system to date. He also identifies areas requiring ongoing policy attention. Specifically, the Quebec child care system:

• “… Had a large, significant and persistent impact on the labour supply of mothers … comparable to ... similar comprehensive reforms in countries such as Norway, Spain and Germany.” These findings were confirmed by three teams of labour economists, who, working independently, produced peer-reviewed studies published in reputable scientific journals.  Also, there has been no meaningful reduction in fathers’ labour force participation.
• Provides economic benefits that outweigh the system costs, when all relevant impacts are considered. The public costs are similar to the OECD average (0.6% of GDP), yet below the international recommendation of 1% of GDP.
• Has achieved good quality programming in the early childhood centres (called CPE in French) which serve 1/3 of children. CPEs “deliver positive cognitive, health and behavioural results” and reduce “vulnerability of children of all income classes. These standards need to be extended to the rest of the system (licensed family-based caregivers and for-profit centres). Providing consistently high quality programs across the system would improve the outcomes for children in all types of care. It would also address the fact that while there is no wait time for a child care space in general, there are waiting lists for CPEs.
• Could use its surplus funds (net economic benefits) to strengthen quality and reach even more low-income families. Including low-income families in child care programs is challenging as they are less likely to be in the workforce and, when they are working, to use child care programs. But trying to target only disadvantaged families would be less effective and more costly overall. A universal approach generates surplus funds that can be used to strengthen quality and reach disadvantaged families at no net public cost. 

Throughout 16 years in government, the BC Liberals could have chosen to make quality child care available and affordable across the province. Instead, they allowed the crisis to grow, particularly over the last four years. While parent fees skyrocketed, the BC Liberal Government consistently underspent their child care budget. They secured only 4,300 of the 13,000 new spaces promised by 2020, leaving 80% of BCs 570,000 children with no access to child care. Yet, the BC Liberals election platform currently suggests they’ll keep building another 8,000 (or 9,000) unaffordable spaces, which doesn’t even keep pace with population growth, in order to reach their old 2020 goal.

Standing in stark contrast, the $10aDay Child Care Plan’s proposed implementation schedule creates 22,500 new spaces by 2020, serving 30,000 more children and making child care affordable for 45,000 families.

We’re only weeks away from election day in BC, and thanks to supporters like you the $10aDay campaign has built an incredible amount of momentum. Now we need your help to get to the finish line and make sure that this election, we make access to affordable, quality child care a reality in BC.

We've had a lot of people ask us — "How can I get involved and support the $10aDay campaign?".

Here are the top 10 ways you can make a difference:

At our recent Stroller Brigade in South Vancouver, Sara Langlois spoke out about the need for the $10aDay Plan. Here's what she had to say:

"My name is Sara Langlois, and I’m here today with my family, to talk about 10 a day and how adopting this policy is what we need to do to keep the BC economy strong.

The Provincial Election is only weeks away.

With your help and hard work, we have achieved our first  election campaign goal. The $10aDay Child Care Plan is a top election issue.

But our work is far from done. Now, we have to make sure that the next government knows they must solve BC’s child care crisis.