The B.C. government is investing $12.5 million in major capital funding to support the creation of licensed child care spaces, announced Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care.
“Our goal as a province is to create an additional 2,000 quality, licensed child care spaces throughout the province by 2010,” said Reid. “By expanding the capital program and supporting child care providers to create much-needed spaces, we are, in turn, increasing options for families and, at the end of the day, supporting children and their families is what this is all about.”
Another new initiative – Major Capital Funding for Creation of New Child Care Spaces in Schools and Public Buildings – will provide incentives to create new spaces in existing unused space in public buildings such as schools.
For the first time, capital funding will also be available to all child care providers. In addition to non-profit organizations, private sector and licensed family child care providers are now able to apply for funding through the program. This change in eligibility recognizes the broad range of child care utilized by families and responds to a demonstrated need for increased choice and flexibility.
“I am thrilled that the ministry is extending the major capital funding program to private and family child care operators,” said Amy Collum, co-chair for the Provincial Child Care Council. “This decision increases child care options available to families and is an excellent step forward in making more child care spaces available.”
The government of B.C. has funded the creation of 3,300 new child care spaces since 2001, bringing the total number of funded, licensed child care spaces to more than 82,300.