Our Plan: ChildCareBC
Last updated on June 26, 2025
B.C. is taking important steps to deliver quality and affordable child care to more families. Learn more about what we're doing to reduce child care fees for parents, build more licensed spaces, and increase supports for those working in the sector.
On this page
- Child care
- Early childhood educators
- Early learning and child care agreements
- The Early Learning and Child Care Act
- ChildCareBC Awards
Child care
B.C. is building a future where access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care is a core service that families can depend on.
View infographics and data information on ChildCareBC programs.
Early childhood educators
We know kids learn the most from birth to five years old. By investing in the training, recruitment and retention of Early Childhood Educators across the province, our government is working to improve access to quality child care for B.C.'s families.
- Support for early childhood professionals
- Early Care and Learning Recruitment and Retention Strategy (PDF, 2MB)
Early learning and child care agreements
In July 2021, the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada signed the Canada - B.C. Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - 2021 to 2025, and the Canada - B.C. Canada - wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - 2021 to 2026.
Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
Canada - British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - 2021 to 2026
Annual reports
Canada-British Columbia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
Canada - British Columbia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - 2021 to 2025
Annual reports
- Annual Report 2023-24 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2021-22 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2020-21 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2019-20 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2018-19 (PDF)
- Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF)
The Early Learning and Child Care Act
The Early Learning and Child Care Act (ELCCA) reaffirms the government's ongoing commitment to making child care more affordable, inclusive and culturally safe.
The ELCCA:
- Introduces a new, annual requirement for the Province to report publicly on actions taken each year to support the design and delivery of affordable, inclusive, accessible and quality child care
- Expands the purpose for which a child care grant may be paid to include establishing a child care facility, improving the inclusivity in child care for children with support needs and facilitating the design and delivery of Indigenous child care programs. Over time, this will help improve access to child care for families
- Clarifies and confirms the role of the Provincial Child Care Council to make recommendations to the Province regarding the accessibility, quality, inclusivity or affordability of child care
The ELCCA will come into force September 1, 2024.
- The Early Learning and Child Care Act
- Early Learning and Child Care Act Regulations
ChildCareBC Awards
The ChildCareBC Awards of Excellence honour the outstanding achievements of those who provide or support the delivery of exceptional early care and learning services.