Starting in April 2024, the British Columbia (BC) government will require childcare facilities receiving government support to pay parents a waitlist fee (a fee that they pay when their child is placed on a waiting list). prohibiting the imposition of fees).
According to the government, the aim is to ensure equal access to childcare for families in the state by removing financial barriers. Regarding this measure, Sharon Gregson of the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of B.C. said in an interview with the CBC online edition, “It’s finally happened.’
Ontario already enacted legislation in 2016 banning waiting list fees and requiring transparency regarding waitlist ordering. Gregson said waiting list fees vary by facility, but range from $20 to $500, and can add up to a significant amount if you’re on the list for multiple daycares.
The BC government aims to secure approximately 32,000 spaces in licensed childcare starting in 2018. On December 7th, Childcare Minister Grace Lore announced that they had achieved 15,000 spaces so far, but they are still not even halfway to their goal.
Gregson also points out that about 75 per cent of children in B.C. do not have access to licensed childcare.