Surrey Board of Trade Pleased with BC Government’s Funding Increases for Childcare Spaces

SURREY – On July 15, the BC Government announced funding increases for childcare spaces. A significant increase in funding will help public-sector and non-profit organizations create more publicly owned and operated child care spaces in BC communities.

The maximum funding amount available from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund to public-sector organizations, such as local governments, school districts, tribal councils and First Nations governments, is increasing to $3 million per project, up from $1 million. Additionally, non-profit organizations – including Indigenous organizations – will be eligible for up to $1.5 million per project, three times more than was previously available.

“Quality child care is important to business to help address the skills gap,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade.

https://businessinsurrey.com/2019/07/surrey-board-of-trade-pleased-with-bc-governments-funding-increases-for-childcare-spaces/

Cornelia Naylor/Burnaby Now

APRIL 16, 2019

Burnaby should have three new child-care centres with a total of 124 new licensed spaces by January 2020, thanks in part to $2.25 million from the provincial government.

The City of Burnaby is getting $2 million to help build two of the centres with the school district at Capitol Hill and Montecito elementary schools. 

The new centres, to be run by local non-profit organizations, will create 50 new spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten age.

They should be ready to go by January 2020, according to an announcement Tuesday.

https://www.burnabynow.com/news/three-new-child-care-centres-coming-to-burnaby-by-2020-1.23793406

Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows News

PHIL MELNYCHUK Jul. 2, 2019 

Maple Ridge is getting a $1-million boost for child care services at the new Albion Community Centre, thanks to the senior governments.

Federal and provincial politicians stopped into Maple Ridge on Tuesday to announce the award that will allow the city to build a daycare facility into the new community centre, which has just started construction.

The child care centre will provide 12 spaces for infants and toddlers and will be located next to the new c’usqunela elementary, which opens in September.

In addition, c’usquenela elementary will also offer daycare and preschool care for kids under five.

https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/1-million-for-new-child-care-centre-in-maple-ridge/

Child-care assessment continues in Kamloops

Jessica Wallace / July 11, 2019

After receiving provincial funding to assess child-care spaces, city staff will be engaging this summer with child-care providers.

The city issued a survey and now plans to follow up in person. Anecdotally, the city and KTW have heard of a shortage of child-care spaces in Kamloops The analysis will provide concrete data.

Cabinet minister pops into local daycare

Oliver Chronicle / July 9, 2019

Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen paid a visit to Inkameep Preschool and Daycare last week.

“This is a real example of culturally inclusive childcare and we definitely need more examples like this to make sure our children have the opportunity to connect with their original language, their culture, their traditions,” she said, “because once they reach the public school age – K to 12 – they don’t always have as much opportunity.”

Iglika Ivanova and Lynell Anderson: Building B.C. a universal child-care system means rethinking how to pay for new spaces

The Province News / July 8, 2019

OPINION: To quickly meet the needs of B.C. families we need to rethink how we fund new spaces and invest in publicly owned child care facilities

Last year, the B.C. government made landmark investments in child care, reducing costs for tens of thousands of families. And, those in $10-a-day prototypes — 2,500 spaces throughout the province — are finally experiencing truly affordable child care.

However, too many families are still desperate for access to quality, licensed child care.

Who's minding the baby?

Clare Ogilvie / July 4, 2019 

Staffing and housing issues are old friends on the list of challenges when it comes to offering sustainable solutions for any number of things in Whistler.

Most recently, they have come to the fore in the discussion around child care and daycare in the corridor.

Just a few months ago, we read in our sister publication the Squamish Chief that Bee Haven Childcare was closing its doors due to staffing shortages. The owner had offered both bonuses and subsidies to attract staff, but no one was interested.

Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum partner on studying child care needs

Nanaimo News Staff / June 25, 2019

Five local governments will look collectively at child care in the region.

The City of Nanaimo, District of Lantzville, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and the Regional District of Nanaimo announced a partnership to study child care needs.

City of Penticton supports $10aDay Child Care program

Jordyn Thomson / June 19, 2019

The City of Penticton has endorsed the provincial $10aDay Child Care initiative.

At the regular council meeting on June 18, council voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the provincial NDP government in relation to its planned universal child care program. The provincial government launched a pilot program in November 2018 with 53 participating daycares across the province which models the cost for parents at $200 per month per child.

Letter: Healthy kids become healthy adults

Kamloops This Week / June 13, 2019

Editor:

Re: Fred Bugden’s letter of June 12, in which he decries the idea of $10-a-day day care, subsidized by taxpayers (‘I should not be forced to pay for your kids’):

I don’t want to live in a world where only the wealthy can procreate, with the assumption we can all plan our lives.