Key requirements:
- direct funding of licensed child care programs, with accountability for affordability, quality and inclusion for all who choose them;
- implementation of Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework; and
- infrastructure strategy.
The summary below incorporates the Plan’s full implementation costing over 8 years for children under age 6. Additional public funding is required to support the Indigenous Framework and to achieve high quality, affordable child care within 10 years for all children under age 12 whose families choose it. Implementation begins with the First Steps for $10aDay Child Care proposed for Budget 2018.
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| In Year 1 | By Year 3 | By Year 5 | By Year 8 | |
New annual public funding* |
$225 million | $450 million | $900 million | $1.5 billion |
*Direct ministry expenditures; does not refect benefits that multiple studies have found outweigh the costs
1. Directly fund licensed child care programs, with accountability for: |
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| In Year 1 | By Year 3 | By Year 5 | By Year 8 | |
Capping and reducing parent fees |
Reduce fees in licensed infant/toddler programs by $500/month. No fees for families with annual incomes under $40,000. | Fees reduced in remaining licensed programs for children under 6 years. | Further fee reductions, on path to $10/day maximum for all under 6 years. | All fees in licensed programs for children under 6 years: maximum $10/day full-time, $7/day part-time, no fees for families with annual incomes under $40,000. |
Investing in the workforce to improve quality |
Increase wages for early childhood educators (ECEs) in licensed programs by $1/hour. Increase bursaries to support additional ECE certi cations. | Regular, ongoing increases to wages and benefits for ECEs in licensed programs. Expanded post-secondary and bursary programs increase ECE educational standards and certifications. Intensive ECE recruitment, re-entrance and retention program in place. | Valued, respected, credentialed ECEs in licensed programs earn $25/ hour (today’s $), on average, plus bene ts and paid professional development. New ECEs have diplomas, and Bachelor of ECE is the new educational standard. | |
Adding licensed spaces that meet diverse family needs |
Conduct province-wide review of public/ community facilities and existing spaces. Develop and implement plan to build new/modify existing spaces with community and public partners. | 22,500 new/ modified licensed spaces achieved. Space plan updated. | Ongoing implementation of space plan, including assessment of family needs, and revisions as required. | Licensed spaces are available and accessible for all who choose them, including single parents, families working non- standard hours, and those living in rural and remote areas. |
Honouring diversity and ensuring full inclusion for all children |
New investments to advance culturally welcoming and a rming programs that nurture and respect children and families in all their diversities include, but are not limited to: (i) costing 10% of all spaces at twice the typical cost to support children with di erent abilities (ii) educating ECEs about the history, cultures and practices of Indigenous peoples, so that these learnings are integrated into the early care and learning programs provided for all children. | |||
2. Implementation of Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework: |
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| In Year 1 | By Year 3 | By Year 5 | By Year 8 | |
Supporting the development and implementation of the Indigenous ELCC framework |
By Indigenous laws, Indigenous peoples are responsible for the care and raising of Indigenous children. This is affirmed as Indigenous rights, and state obligations, by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to which federal and provincial governments have committed. Through the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Framework, Indigenous nations will be supported to restore their own authorities for their children, families and communities’ futures by ensuring that every Indigenous child and family in BC is supported by spiritually enriching, culturally relevant, high quality early childhood development and care services. (excerpted & adapted from BCACCS, Sept. 2017) | |||
3. An infrastructure strategy: |
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| In Year 1 | By Year 3 | By Year 5 | By Year 8 | |
Supporting the development and implementation of an infrastructure strategy to ensure effective system oversight and support |
Develop strategy including, but not limited to, roles of CCRR, SCD, Licensing, etc and plan for child care’s transition to Ministry of Education. | Child care transition from MCFD to Ministry of Education complete. | Full implementation of infrastructure strategy, with oversight and support functions appropriately staffed and resourced and ongoing planning and evaluation in place. | |
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