B.C. Government Proposes New Childcare Legislation for Schools

The government of British Columbia has introduced legislation aimed at expanding childcare options at school facilities. If approved, this legislation would allow schools to host daycare services for infants and toddlers, as well as before-and-after school care that could extend during holiday periods, including Christmas and summer breaks.

At a press conference on March 12, 2024, B.C. Premier David Eby stated, “Today is what I hope will be life-changing for many parents.” The announcement addresses critical issues faced by new parents in the province, such as lengthy waitlists, high childcare costs, staffing shortages, and a two-tiered system that limits access to affordable programs. Currently, only a small portion of families benefit from the $10/day childcare initiative.

Advocates for childcare services have expressed optimism regarding the potential changes. Sharon Gregson, the provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care campaign, remarked, “After a year or two of stalling on progress for childcare, to have this announcement today is really good news.” Gregson has been an advocate for reforms to the School Act for several years, emphasizing the need for increased support for families.

Details of the Proposed Legislation

The proposed changes would grant individual school boards the authority to establish daycare facilities. However, questions remain regarding the pricing and operational details of these programs. Gregson raised concerns about whether the new daycare spaces would also follow the $10/day model, stating, “If they’re publicly funded and on public school sites, we think they should be $10/day programs.”

Information regarding staffing for these expanded services has not yet been clarified by either Premier Eby or representatives from the Ministry of Education. The Premier suggested that there could be opportunities for part-time support workers, such as education assistants, to transition into full-time roles within these daycare facilities.

“CUPE is the union that represents the support workers that are in many schools,” Eby noted. “And it was CUPE that came forward to say that not only are the buildings there, but so are the workers. These are workers that would like to move from part-time jobs into full-time jobs.”

Challenges Ahead for Implementation

Implementing these changes may pose challenges, particularly regarding the availability of space in schools. Gregson pointed out that in certain districts, space is limited, necessitating the construction of new modular units on school properties to accommodate the additional daycare services.

As of now, local school districts in the capital region have not publicly commented on the announcement. The proposed legislation will undergo readings, debate, and voting before any amendments take effect.

The push for expanded childcare options reflects a broader commitment to improving accessibility for families in British Columbia, and advocates are hopeful that this momentum will lead to meaningful changes in the coming months.