Deputy Prime Minister celebrates one-year anniversary of first agreement for $10-a-day child care
News release
July 8, 2022 - Vancouver, Canada - Department of Finance Canada
Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, visited Collingwood Neighbourhood House in Vancouver, British Columbia, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the first agreement with a province or territory to establish Canada-wide early learning and child care. The Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Karina Gould, joined virtually from the YWCA in Hamilton, Ontario.
On July 8, 2021, British Columbia became the first province or territory to sign onto the federal government’s plan for affordable and high-quality child care, with the federal government providing $3.2 billion over 5 years for child care in the province. Through a combination of federal and provincial investments, British Columbia recently surpassed the milestone of funding the creation of an additional 30,500 new licensed child care spaces since 2018, with a further 30,000 coming by March 2026.
In the time since, the Canada-wide child care plan has become a reality, with all 13 provinces and territories having now signed agreements to make life more affordable for Canadian families. As a result of these 13 agreements, child care fees for Canadian families will be cut by an average of 50 per cent by the end of this year, with $10-a-day child care becoming available across the country by 2025-26.
Quotes
“One year ago today, British Columbia became the first signatory to our Canada-wide plan for $10-a-day early learning and child care. Since then, all other provinces and territories have followed British Columbia’s lead by signing onto our plan, making life more affordable for young Canadian families from coast to coast to coast. Today is a day to celebrate the results of the hard work of Canadians who spent decades fighting for an affordable, universal child care system that has now become a reality.”
- The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
“High-quality, affordable child care is not a luxury, it is a necessity for parents across the country. The signing of the agreement with British Columbia was that first important step towards creating what is now a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. By working with the Government of British Columbia, high-quality, affordable and inclusive child care is becoming a reality in the province.”
- The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“When we formed government in B.C. in 2017, we had a new vision for child care because we knew the previous patchwork system of rising child care fees and lack of spaces wasn’t working for families. The Government of Canada is a strong partner, helping us deliver high-quality, inclusive, affordable child care as a core service to B.C. families, and we’re excited to continue to work with them through our 10-Year ChildCareBC plan and the five-year Canada-wide agreement.”
- Katrina Chen, British Columbia Minister of State for Child Care
Quick facts
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In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced a transformative investment of over $27 billion over five years to build the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system with provinces and territories. Combined with other investments, including in Indigenous early learning and child care, up to $30 billion over five years will be provided in support of early learning and child care.
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In total, the Government of Canada is aiming to create approximately 250,000 new child care spaces through Canada-wide agreements with provinces and territories. These new spaces will be predominantly among licensed not-for-profit, public, and family-based child care providers.
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With a 50 per cent average fee reduction by the end of 2022, families in British Columbia could save up to an estimated average of $6,000 per child thanks to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, and close to $9,400 a year per child on average once fees reach $10-a-day.
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Investments in child care will benefit everyone across Canada. Studies show that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the broader economy receives between $1.50 and $2.80 in return.
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Contacts
Media may contact:
Adrienne Vaupshas
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Adrienne.Vaupshas@fin.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
mediare@fin.gc.ca
613-369-4000
General enquiries
Phone: 1-833-712-2292
Facsimile: 613-369-4065
TTY: 613-369-3230
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