CCCABC and ECEBC are aware of ongoing discussions about introducing additional income-testing into British Columbia’s child care system. We strongly oppose this backward approach.

More income-testing would undermine the government’s commitment to a publicly-funded, universal child care system in BC.

For those who argue that “families who earn more should pay more”, we say “they do” — thanks to our progressive tax system (which is, for example, how Kindergarten is funded).

BC already has limited, targeted income-testing through the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB), which can reduce fees for eligible families to $0. This type of supplemental support — which could be streamlined and simplified — is compatible with a universal child care system because it improves affordability for lower-income families without undermining universal access for everyone else.

By contrast, widespread income-testing — including income-testing for access to capped fee programs such as $10aDay child care, or imposing steep sliding fee scales — erodes the core promise of universality, both politically and technically.

Read our full policy brief for more detail.