Monthly child-care fees drop for some parents

$350 reduction a first step: Horgan

COQUITLAM — Premier John Horgan says monthly fee reductions of up to $350 at licensed child-care facilities in B.C. are the New Democrat government’s first steps toward implementing a $10-a-day day system.

The fee reductions, starting April 1, are available to families with children up to kindergarten age who go to licensed child care and whose providers opt into the program, Horgan told a news conference Wednesday at a daycare centre at the Douglas College campus.

He said the government’s $1-billion, three-year plan to build a universal child-care system announced last month aims to create more than 22,000 new licensed child-care spaces and cut costs for up to 86,000 families.

Horgan acknowledged there could be obstacles along the way. The government recently extended the deadline to April 20 for childcare operators to sign up for the program after some started raising concerns, he said.

“I don’t apologize for providing the first quality child-care program in B.C.’s history, not at all,” he said. “A $1-billion investment is undertaken and we’re going to have growing pains along the way. We’re going to work case-by-case with those people who have concerns.”

The minister responsible for child care, Katrina Chen, said providers have applied for the fee reductions for more than 18,000 children.

The Opposition Liberals said child-care operators were not properly consulted about the fee reduction program, which has led to concerns about its implementation.

Child-care critic Laurie Throness said in a statement operators are feeling rushed and are anxious the new fee structure could hurt their business plans.

“Unfortunately, the premier has ‘absolutely no apologies’ for his government’s inability to properly roll out a child-care plan,” Throness said.