Frequently Asked Questions for Families

Child care providers can apply to become a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre; parents do not need to apply. If parents want to enrol their child in a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, they must contact an approved centre directly to learn about their availability and application process.

We recognize that many families are not able to access a child care space at a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre. We are working to expand the program as quickly as possible and will continue supporting non-$10 a Day child care operators and parents to lower fees through the existing Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB). Please see the CCFRI web page for a list of participating providers.

The $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre web page lists all approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres.

Newly approved centres will be added to the list as the current expansion evolves, with additional intakes to follow in the future.

Yes. If your current child care provider has been approved for the program, your space will be automatically converted and there is no need to re-enrol at that centre. Your current provider will be able to share information specific to your space, hours of service, etc.

Child care waitlists are kept and managed by individual child care operators. Please reach out to your child care provider to discuss their waitlist and enrolment policies.

Child care providers apply to participate in the program, and the eligibility criteria for each intake may differ. Once a centre has been approved, all of the families with children enrolled benefit.

Funding for expansion of the $10 a Day program comes from the Government of Canada under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, signed in July 2021. Under this agreement, the Province is required to focus on public and not-for-profit sectors. However, for-profit providers are welcome to apply and will continue to benefit from government’s efforts to improve child care for families, including fee reductions, and to support recruitment and retention of skilled child care workers.

Access to an approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre is based on each location’s licensed capacity and waitlist. If you are having difficulty obtaining child care and require support, your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre will be able to provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.

Additional supports may be available to you through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB).

In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province has converted over 13,200 child care spaces at centres throughout British Columbia

Only licensed child care providers are eligible to apply to the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program. This means that if you enter into an agreement with an unlicensed provider, that space will not be converted to $10 a Day ChildCareBC space unless that provider becomes licensed and is subsequently approved under the program.

If you have a child attending an approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, the operator will go through any necessary paperwork with you. You do not need to forward any paperwork directly to the province for processing. Families that earn up to $111,000 may be able to have their fees further reduced by applying for the Affordable Child Care Benefit.

Increasing the number of $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres is a top priority for government. There are currently more than 13,200 $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces at more than 315 centres throughout the province.​

$10 a Day ChildCareBC web page for an up-to-date list of approved Centres, as well as information about upcoming intakes as more details become available

We recommend reaching out to your preferred child care providers to better understand their specific policies regarding waitlists and how they fill spaces. We also recommend speaking with your preferred licensed provider to see if they are interested in applying to become a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre in the future, as this may impact your decision to proceed with a specific provider.

Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre can also provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.

Each $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre is different. Please contact the specific centre to learn more about their program offerings.

Additional supports may be available to you through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB). Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre can also provide you with information and resources.

To improve affordability, families with children ages five and under in eligible CCFRI child care now save up to $900 per child, per month. And families with children in eligible half-day preschool and before- and after-school programs will save as much as $145 per child, per month.

We recognize the many challenges that newcomers face upon arrival to Canada, including the challenges related to obtaining inclusive and affordable child care. There are no restrictions to the program based on citizenship.

If parents want to enrol their child in a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, they must contact the approved location directly to learn about their availability.

The ChildCareBC web page has a variety of resources available and it is updated regularly. We also encourage you to sign up for the ChildCareBC Bulletin, to receive regular ChildCareBC updates in your inbox.

If you need support finding child care, you can contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. The centre will be able to provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.

The ChildCareBC Stakeholder Engagement Team is happy to answer any additional questions that you may have related to child care in general at the email address listed below.

If you have specific questions about the $10 a Day program, please call or write to the phone number and mailing address listed below. Child care providers who are already enrolled in the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program can contact their ministry co-ordinator directly.