Statement from the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC on the new Canada-BC Cooperative Prosperity Agreement

July 7, 2026 

The agreement commits an additional $630 million of federal funds over two years for child care in British Columbia - with no corresponding provincial commitment, yet.

This agreement is big news for child care in BC. Not just because our province will see a much-needed influx of new federal child care funds but also because it demonstrates that both the federal and BC governments confirm the direct link between a prosperous economy, job creation, and the need for child care.

The Prime Minister has committed new child care funds to back up the federal position and Premier Eby can make the provincial commitment real by doing the same - with matching funds and updated $10aDay deliverables - for BC families and our economy.

Now is the time for the BC government to match the new federal funds and get ChildCareBC back on track to deliver the universal quality affordable system that British Columbians were promised and still desperately need.

The new federal child care funds will “support labour force participation and skilled trades training and readiness.” Clearly that means results need to be achieved. $630 million of additional funding - on top of the $5.4 billion over 5 years the federal government has already committed - must not just disappear without progress for BC children, families, and educators.

Next steps require the Ministry of Education and Child Care to move to planning the capital expansion of new child care programs through school districts and inviting all existing child care programs to transition to $10aDay with a funding model that incorporates a fair wage grid for educators, and quality care for children.

Relevant excerpts from the new Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement:

●      The federal and provincial governments agree they will “collaboratively advance shared priorities” … “as a framework for joint action on economic security, trade diversification, to create good jobs and strengthen the economic security and prosperity of B.C. and Canada.”

●       The “projects and commitments in this agreement are only achievable if we have the workforce available to build and operate them. British Columbia is facing a significant skilled trades shortage just as demand is accelerating. Closing that gap requires coordinated federal and provincial action on training, childcare and labour standards.”

●      “A strong, stable and ready workforce is essential to delivering on these commitments. To support labour force participation and skilled trades training and readiness, Canada and British Columbia commit to renegotiating the terms of the existing Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Canada-wide agreements to enable a stable and adequately resourced vision for the delivery of early learning and childcare in B.C. Canada and British Columbia will work to reach agreement on these terms through bilateral discussions led by the responsible ministers in each jurisdiction, including consideration for school-aged children.”

●      The Implementation Committee established under the agreement will collaboratively advance work on renewed child care commitments on or before December 1, 2026.