ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund

Quarterly

Funding recipients submit quarterly reports using the Quarterly Report template according to the schedule in their funding agreement. School districts approved in 2024-25 submit quarterly reporting through the MyCAPS system.

• Quarterly Report Template (PDF, 868KB)

Annual

Funding recipients submit Annual Reports using the Annual Report template for the duration of their commitment period in accordance with their signed funding agreement. School Districts approved in 2024-25 submit annual reporting through the MyCAPS system.

• Annual Report (PDF, 80KB)

The ministry may conduct random internal audits of New Spaces Fund projects. Recipients are required to retain all financial records and proof of payment for seven years following project completion.

Retain proof of payment for all eligible project costs for financial reconciliation. Proof of payment should reflect the purchase of all eligible project costs and include the following components:

1. Receipts, such as transaction receipts, bank statements, copies of cheques, etc.
2. Invoices with zero-dollar balances or corresponding receipt of payment if applicable
3. Name of company or individual from which items or services were purchased
4. Date of purchase
5. Itemized description of the products purchased so that the ministry may determine eligibility

Proof of payment does not need to be submitted to the ministry at time of financial reconciliation. It must be provided to a Chartered Professional Accountant, or the organization’s authorized financial signatory as outlined in the signed funding agreement, who possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to certify the correctness and completeness of the itemized expense report.  

Financial Reconciliation Report

Funding recipients submit the reconciliation report to the ministry within 60 days of project completion. The report includes the following:

• The Financial Reconciliation Form (PDF, 4MB) must be dated and signed by an authorized signatory of the organization certifying that the project has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
• The Itemized Expense Report (XLSX, 60KB) must be dated and signed by the organization’s authorized financial signatory as outlined in the signed Funding Agreement, who possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to certify the correctness and completeness of the report. This report must list all eligible project costs incurred and paid by the funding recipient.
• All current Community Care Facility Licenses issued under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act must be provided.

Effective December 21, 2018

Section 5. Eligible and ineligible project costs

Funding will be considered for:

• building a new child care facility;
• the purchase of and/or assembling a modular building;
• site development costs; and/or
• renovation to an existing building/space or classroom.

Ineligible project costs will not be funded. The province has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine items that may receive funding.

Section 5.1 Eligible project costs 

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project.
• Consulting services, including:
  • Project management
  • Design/engineering costs
  • Business planning development
  • Project-related professional fees (e.g. architectural)
• Infrastructure costs (e.g. water/sewer/road/sidewalk)
• Feasibility studies related directly to the project
• GST and PST
• Training activities as part of the eligible project or to support the project (i.e. WHMIS, Food Safe, First Aid etc. if applicable)
• Capital purchases that are essential to project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • New or updated software/technology required to run child care operations;
  • Large appliances (e.g. fridge, stove, dishwasher etc.)
  • Furniture and equipment (e.g. change tables, strollers, room dividers)
  • Buses, vans (transport for childcare purposes)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g. fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g. whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washrooms dividers)
  • Large educational materials (e.g. sand/water tables, art easels)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g. activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-size sink/stove/fridge/work bench)
  • Housewares (e.g. pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units)
  • Indoor play structures (e.g. climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions)
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g. fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground prep)
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g. nature-based landscaping, climbers, basketball hoop, wheeled toys)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g. wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment)
• Equipment or other capital costs where no building, renovation, or site development costs were incurred, if the equipment is required in order to:
  • Allow the facility to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation,
  • Allow the facility to become operational or
  • Create new spaces in an existing facility, and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Section 5.2 Ineligible project costs

• Costs incurred outside the time periods for the project as outlined in the application
• Costs incurred prior to the signing of a funding agreement
• Non-capital items such as toys, art supplies, books, games, and small appliances
• Project contingency costs
• Legal costs
• Project related fees payable to the eligible applicant
• Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
• Costs related to attending conferences and trade shows
• Directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government
• Coordinating/hosting conferences/events
• Vehicles (other than child transport buses or vans)
• Remuneration and travel of elected officials
• Meals and project travel related expenses
• Academic research
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Costs related to purchasing of land, buildings and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective January 20, 2020

Section 6. Eligible and ineligible project costs

Funding will be considered for:

• Building a new child care facility
• The purchase, assembly and installation of a modular building
• Site development costs
• Renovation of an existing building/space or classroom
• Purchase of equipment or other capital costs related to obtaining a licence

Ineligible project costs will not be funded. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine items that may receive funding.

Section 6.1 Eligible project costs

Eligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project/s
• Consulting services, including:
  • Project management
  • Design/engineering costs
  • Business planning development
  • Project-related professional fees (e.g., architectural, accountant), except legal costs
  • Community engagement/consultation activities
• Infrastructure costs (e.g., water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• GST and PST
• Training activities to support the project/s (e.g., Food Safe, First Aid, etc., if applicable)
• Capital purchases that are essential to project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • Major appliances (e.g., fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.)
  • Furniture and large equipment (e.g., change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.)
  • Transport for child care purposes (e.g., bus/van used solely for the transportation of children)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g., fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g., whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washroom dividers, etc.)
  • Large educational materials (e.g., sand/water tables, art easels, etc.)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g., activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-sized sink/stove/fridge/work bench, etc.);
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g., fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground preparation, etc.
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g., nature-based landscaping, climbers, wheeled toys, etc.)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g., wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment, etc.)
• Additional equipment or other capital costs, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become operational
  • Create the new spaces in an existing facility and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation

Section 6.2 Ineligible project costs

• Ineligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • Costs incurred prior to the singing of the funding agreement
  • Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g. food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
  • New or updated software/technology
  • Housewares (e.g., pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
  • Indoor play structures (e.g., climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions, etc.)
  • Legal costs
  • Project-related fees payable to the eligible applicant and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or Applicant
  • Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
  • Costs related to attending conferences and trade shows
  • Directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government
  • Coordinating/hosting conferences or events
  • Vehicles (other than vehicles used solely for the transportation of children)
  • Remuneration and travel of elected officials
  • Meals and Project travel expenses
  • Academic research
  • Financing costs and interest charges
  • Costs related to the purchasing of real estate, buildings, and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective February 10, 2020

Section 6. Eligible and ineligible project costs

New Space Funding will be considered for:

• Building a new child care facility
• The purchase, assembly and installation of a modular building for use as a child care facility
• Site development costs for use as a child care facility
• Renovation of an existing building/space or classroom for use as a child care facility
• Purchase of equipment or other capital costs related to obtaining a licence to operate a child care facility

Ineligible project costs will not be funded by the ministry. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine items that may receive funding and to restrict the costs attributed to professional, administrative and consulting services to no more than 15% of the total project costs. Changes to this will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of and acceptable to the ministry.

Section 6.1 Eligible project costs

Eligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project/s
• Consulting services*, including:
  • Project management
  • Design/engineering costs
  • Business planning development
  • Project-related professional fees (e.g. architectural, accountant), except legal costs

*Professional, administrative and consulting services should not exceed 15% of the overall project costs

• Infrastructure costs (e.g. water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• GST and PST as part of eligible project costs, if applicable;
• Capital purchases that are essential to Project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • Major appliances (e.g. fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.)
  • Furniture and large equipment (e.g. change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.)
  • Transport for child care purposes (e.g. bus/van used solely for the transportation of children)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g. fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g. whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washroom dividers, etc.)
  • Large educational materials (e.g. sand/water tables, art easels, etc.)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g. activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-sized sink/stove/fridge/work bench, etc.)
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g. fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground preparation, etc.)
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g. nature-based landscaping, climbers, wheeled toys, etc.)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g. wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment, lighting etc.)
• Additional equipment or other capital costs, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation,
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become operational or
  • Create the new spaces in an existing facility and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Section 6.2 Ineligible project costs

• Ineligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • Any/all costs or expenses incurred prior to the signing of the funding agreement
  • Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g. food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
  • Mortgage, rent or lease payments
  • New or updated software/technology
  • Housewares (e.g. pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
  • Indoor play structures (e.g. climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions, etc.)
  • Legal costs
  • Community engagement/consultation activities
  • Training activities (e.g. Food Safe, First Aid, etc.)
  • Project-related costs or fees payable to the eligible Applicant (or the Applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or Applicant
  • Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
  • Costs related to attending conferences and trade shows
  • Costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government
  • Coordinating/hosting conferences or events
  • Vehicles (other than vehicles used solely for the transportation of children in connection with the provision of childcare for the child care facility)
  • Remuneration and travel of elected officials
  • Meals and Project travel expenses
  • Academic research
  • Financing costs and interest charges
  • Costs related to the purchasing of real estate, buildings, and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective July 2, 2020

Section 6. Eligible and ineligible project costs

New Space Funding will be considered for:

• Building a new child care facility
• The purchase, assembly and installation of a modular building for use as a child care facility
• Site development costs for use as a child care facility
• Renovation of an existing building/space or classroom for use as a child care facility
• Purchase of equipment or other capital costs related to obtaining a licence to operate a child care facility

Ineligible project costs will not be funded by the ministry. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine items that may receive funding and to restrict the costs attributed to professional, administrative and consulting services to no more than 15% of the total project costs. Changes to this will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of and acceptable to the ministry.

Section 6.1 Eligible project costs

Eligible Project Costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project(s)
• Consulting services*, including:
  • Project management**
  • Design/engineering costs
  • Business planning development
  • Project-related Professional Fees (e.g. architectural, accountant), except legal costs

*Professional, administrative and consulting services should not exceed 15% of the overall project costs.

**Project managers must be contracted out and must be a third party at arm’s length from the project and the applicant in order for their fees to be eligible for funding.

• Infrastructure costs (e.g. water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• GST and PST as part of eligible project costs, if applicable
• Capital purchases that are essential to project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • Major appliances (e.g. fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.)
  • Furniture and large equipment (e.g. change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.)
  • Transport for child care purposes (e.g. bus/van used solely for the transportation of children)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g. fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g. whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washroom dividers, etc.)
  • Large educational materials (e.g. sand/water tables, art easels, etc.)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g. activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-sized sink/stove/fridge/work bench, etc.)
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g. fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground preparation, etc.)
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g. nature-based landscaping, climbers, wheeled toys, etc.)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g. wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment, modified lighting etc.)
• Additional equipment or other capital costs, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation,
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become operational or
  • Create the new spaces in an existing facility and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Section 6.2 Ineligible project costs

Ineligible Project Costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Any/all costs or expenses incurred prior to the signing of the funding agreement
• Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g. food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
• Mortgage, rent or lease payments
• New or updated software/technology
• Video surveillance equipment
• Housewares (e.g. pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
• Indoor play structures (e.g. climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions, etc.)
• Legal costs
• Community engagement/consultation activities
• Training activities (e.g. Food Safe, First Aid, etc.)
• Project-related costs or fees payable to the eligible applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) for products or services
• Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
• Costs related to attending conferences and trade shows
• Costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government;
• Coordinating/hosting conferences or events;
• Vehicles (other than vehicles used solely for the transportation of children in connection with the provision of child care for the child care facility)
• Remuneration and travel of elected officials
• Meals and project travel expenses
• Academic research
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Warranties
• Costs related to the purchasing of real estate, buildings, and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective September 13, 2021

Section 6. Eligible and ineligible project costs

New Space Funding will be considered for:

• Building a new child care facility
• The purchase, assembly and installation of a modular building for use as a child care facility
• Site development costs for use as a child care facility
• Renovation of an existing building/space or classroom for use as a child care facility
• Purchase of equipment or other capital costs related to obtaining a licence to operate a child care facility

Ineligible project costs will not be funded by the ministry. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine items that may receive funding and to restrict the costs attributed to professional, administrative and consulting services to no more than 15% of the total project costs. Changes to this will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of and acceptable to the ministry.

Section 6.1 Eligible project costs

Eligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following :

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project(s)
• Consulting services*, including:
  • Project management**
  • Design/engineering costs
  • Business planning development
  • Project-related professional fees (e.g. architectural, accountant), except legal costs

*Professional, administrative and consulting services should not exceed 15% of the overall project costs.

**Project managers must be contracted out and must be a third party at arm’s length from the project and the applicant in order for their fees to be eligible for funding.

• Infrastructure costs (e.g. water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• GST and PST as part of Eligible Project Costs, if applicable
• Capital purchases that are essential to Project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • Major appliances (e.g. fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.)
  • Furniture and large equipment (e.g. change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.)
  • Transport for child care purposes (e.g. bus/van used solely for the transportation of children)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g. fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g. whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washroom dividers, etc.)
  • Large educational materials (e.g. sand/water tables, art easels, etc.)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g. activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-sized sink/stove/fridge/work bench, etc.)
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g. fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground preparation, etc.)
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g. nature-based landscaping, climbers, wheeled toys, etc.)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g. wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment, modified lighting etc.)
• Additional equipment or other capital costs, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation,
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become operational or
  • Create the new spaces in an existing facility and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Section 6.2 Ineligible project costs

Ineligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Any/all costs or expenses incurred prior to the signing of the funding agreement
• Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g. food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
• Mortgage, rent or lease payments
• New or updated software/technology
• Video surveillance equipment
• Housewares (e.g. pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
• Indoor play structures (e.g. climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions, etc.)
• Legal costs
• Grant writing
• Community engagement/consultation activities
• Training activities (e.g. Food Safe, First Aid, etc.)
• Project-related costs or fees payable to the eligible applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) for products or services
• Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
• Costs related to attending conferences and trade shows
• Costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government
• Coordinating/hosting conferences or events
• Vehicles (other than vehicles used solely for the transportation of children in connection with the provision of child care for the child care facility)
• Remuneration and travel of elected officials
• Meals and project travel expenses
• Academic research
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Warranties
• Costs related to the purchasing of real estate, buildings, and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective May 31, 2022

Section 6. Eligible and ineligible project costs

New Space Funding will be considered for:

• Building a new child care facility
• The purchase, assembly and installation of a modular building for use as a child care facility
• Site development costs for use as a child care facility
• Renovation of an existing building/space or classroom for use as a child care facility
• Purchase of equipment or other capital costs related to obtaining a licence to operate a child care facility

Ineligible project costs will not be funded by the ministry. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine projects and items that may receive funding. Costs attributed to professional, administrative, and consulting services may be up to a maximum of 15% of the total project costs. Exemptions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the ministry.

Section 6.1 Eligible project costs

Eligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Direct costs related to development and implementation of the project(s)
• Consulting services*, including:
  • Project Management*
  • Design/engineering costs and site evaluations
  • Project-related professional fees (e.g., architectural, accountant), except legal costs
  • Business planning development (e.g., business case model and analysis)

*Consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to entering a funding agreement may be eligible for funding, at the discretion of the ministry. Professional, administrative, and consulting services must not exceed 15% of the overall project costs.

**Project managers must be contracted out and must be a third party at arm’s length from the project and applicant for their fees to be eligible for funding.

• Infrastructure costs (e.g., water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• Minimum 10% contingency fund*

*To be considered for funding, applicants must ensure their project budget includes a contingency fund equal to at least 10% of the total project costs related to the child care build. 

• GST and PST as part of eligible project costs, if applicable
• Capital purchases that are essential to project implementation, including:
  • Office equipment
  • Major appliances (e.g., fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.)
  • Furniture and large equipment (e.g., change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.)
  • Electrified space and water heating systems (e.g., heat pumps for space and hot water)
  • Transport for child care purposes (e.g., bus/van used solely to transport children)
  • Fixtures and equipment required by fire regulations (e.g., fire alarms, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)
  • Permanently installed equipment (e.g., whiteboards/bulletin boards, cubbies, lighting fixtures, washroom dividers, etc.)
  • Large educational materials (e.g., sand/water tables, art easels, etc.)
  • Dramatic play furniture (e.g., activity tables, Indigenous drums/drumming logs, child-sized sink/stove/fridge/work bench, etc.)
  • Permanent outdoor equipment (e.g., fencing, covered entrance, outdoor playground preparation, etc.)
  • Outdoor play equipment (e.g., nature-based landscaping, climbers, wheeled toys, etc.)
  • Accessibility equipment (e.g., wheelchair ramps, lifts, accessible playground equipment, automated doors, modified bathroom equipment, modified lighting etc.)
• Additional equipment or other capital costs if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation,
  • Enable the facility/facilities to become operational or
  • Create new spaces in an existing facility and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Section 6.2 Ineligible project costs

Ineligible project costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Any costs or expenses (excluding consulting services*) incurred prior to entering a funding agreement

*Consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to signing the funding agreement may be eligible. These services must not exceed 15% of the overall project costs. 

• Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g., food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
• Mortgage, rent or lease payments
• Insurance
• New or updated software/technology
• Video surveillance equipment
• Housewares (e.g., pots/pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
• Indoor play structures (e.g., climbers, tunnels, mats, cushions, etc.)
• Legal costs
• Grant writing
• Community engagement/consultation activities
• Operating planning, curriculum development and instructional planning
• Training activities (e.g., Food Safe, First Aid, etc.)
• Project-related costs or fees payable to the eligible applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) for products or services
• Ongoing costs for existing staff salaries and benefits
• Costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying of any level of government
• Coordinating/hosting conferences or events
• Vehicles (other than vehicles used solely for transporting children in connection with providing child care for the child care facility)
• Remuneration and travel of elected officials
• Meals and project travel expenses
• Academic research
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Costs related to the purchasing of real estate, buildings, and/or commercial space (with the exception of modular buildings)

Effective May 1, 2024

Section 4. Eligible and ineligible costs

Funding under the Minor Capital Grants will be considered for:

• Minor renovations to an existing building, space, or classroom for use as a child care centre (e.g., upgrades, repairs, refurbishment, tenant improvements, etc.)
• Purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment and other capital costs related to obtaining a license to operate the new child care spaces

Ineligible costs will be the financial responsibility of the applicant. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine projects, project budget and items that may receive funding. Exceptions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the ministry.

Section 4.1 Eligible costs

Eligible costs directly related to the development, implementation, and operation of the project include, but are not limited to the following:

• Soft construction costs, including consulting services (e.g., project management, design consultants, engineering costs, professional quantity surveyors, school district facilities managers and other project-related professional fees, except for legal costs)*, business planning (e.g., business case model and analysis), permit fees, inspections, etc.

*Costs related to consulting services will be funded up to a maximum of 15% of the provincial funding amount. Consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to entering a funding agreement may be eligible for funding, at the discretion of the ministry.

• Exterior works (e.g., landscaping, permanent outdoor equipment, etc.)
• Insurance, such as course of construction and wrap-up liability
• Contingency
• GST and PST imposed on eligible costs*

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine their eligibility to claim input tax credits on GST paid on project costs. If input tax credits will be claimed, applicants should list them as additional sources of funding on their submitted project budget template.

• Transportation vehicle(s) for child care purposes (i.e., bus or van used solely for the transport of children accessing the child care services)
• Owner-supplied furniture, fixtures, and equipment (e.g., kitchen equipment, major appliances, heat pumps, millwork, safety equipment, accessibility equipment, video surveillance and security equipment*, etc.)

*Ongoing subscriptions and/or ongoing monthly or annual service fees associated with security services are not eligible for funding.

• Program-related furniture, fixtures, and equipment (e.g., office equipment, furniture, and large equipment [e.g., change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.], large educational materials [e.g., sensory and activity tables, art easels, Indigenous drums, and drumming logs, etc.], dramatic and outdoor play equipment [e.g., child-sized kitchen, wheeled toys, climbers, etc.])*

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that any proposed equipment and/or furniture purchases for the project meet the requirements of the Child Care Licensing Regulation and that the manufacturer’s instructions have been reviewed for appropriate use within a child care setting for the applicable age(s) of the children in care.

• Additional equipment or other capital costs may be considered, at the discretion of the ministry, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the child care centre to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation
  • Enable the child care centre to become operational
  • Create new spaces in an existing child care centre and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation

Section 4.2 Ineligible costs

Ineligible costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Any costs (excluding consulting services*) incurred prior to entering a funding agreement

*Consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to signing the New Spaces Fund funding agreement may be eligible. Costs related to consulting services will be funded up to a maximum of 15% of the overall provincial funding amount.

• Costs related to the purchase of real estate, buildings, and commercial space, including modular buildings or portable buildings
• Mortgage, rent, or lease payments
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Insurance for operations (e.g. insurance to protect the recipient and/or authorized operator from loss)
• Legal costs
• Grant writing
• Academic research
• Project-related costs or fees payable to the applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers)* for products or services

*Indigenous governing entities are exempt from the requirement that project-related costs or fees be payable to a third party at arm’s length.

• Staff salaries and benefits for Early Childhood Educators and other child care centre staff in relation to the operation of the child care centre and child care spaces
• Remunerations and travel of elected officials
• Networking activities (e.g., costs related to attending or hosting conferences/events/tradeshows, costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying with any level of government, meals, and travel expenses, etc.)
• New or updated software
• Housewares (e.g., pots, pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
• Indoor play structures (e.g., indoor climbers, tunnels, play mats, cushions, etc.)
• Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g., food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
• Operational start-up costs and activities (e.g., utilities, training activities, planning, curriculum development, and instructional planning, etc.)
• Cost escalations incurred throughout the course of the project

Effective May 1, 2024

Section 4. Eligible and ineligible costs

Funding under the Major Capital Grants will be considered for:

• Building a new child care centre
• The purchase, assembly, and installation of a modular building for use as a child care centre
• Major renovation of an existing building, space, or school for use as a child care centre

Ineligible costs will be the financial responsibility of the recipient. The ministry has the sole discretion and reserves the right to determine projects, project components, and items that may receive funding. Exemptions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the ministry.

Section 4.1 Eligible costs

Eligible costs directly related to the development, implementation, and operation of the project, include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Site evaluations, development costs, and demolition costs

Eligibility of demolition costs at the ministry’s discretion, based on proposed size and scope of the project.

• Infrastructure costs (e.g., water, sewer, road, sidewalk, etc.)
• Building and site hard construction costs (e.g., building shell, interiors, mechanical, electrical, site work, ancillary work, materials, labour, etc.)
• Soft construction costs, including consulting services (e.g., project management, design consultants, engineering costs, professional quantity surveyors, school boards of education facilities managers, and other project-related professional fees, except for legal costs)*, business planning (e.g., business case model and analysis), permit fees, inspections, etc.

*Costs related to consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to entering a New Spaces Fund funding agreement may be eligible for funding, at the discretion of the ministry, up to a maximum of 15% of the provincial funding amount

• Exterior works (e.g., landscaping, permanent outdoor equipment, etc.)
• Insurance, such as course of construction and wrap-up liability
• Security during construction
• Contingency amount within the project budget for identified site-specific conditions and risk associated with the child care project*

*Applicants must ensure their project budget includes a contingency amount accounting for site-specific conditions and risk associated with the project.

• GST and PST applicable to eligible costs*

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine their eligibility to claim input tax credits on GST paid on project costs. If input tax credits will be claimed, applicants should list them as additional sources of funding on their submitted project budget template.

• Transportation vehicle(s) for child care purposes (i.e., bus or van used solely for the transport of children accessing the child care services)
• Owner-supplied furniture, fixtures, and equipment (e.g., kitchen equipment, major appliances, heat pumps, millwork, safety equipment, accessibility equipment, video surveillance and security equipment*, etc.)

*Ongoing subscriptions and/or ongoing monthly or annual service fees associated with security services are not eligible for funding.

• Program-related furniture, fixtures, and equipment (e.g., office equipment, furniture, and large equipment [e.g., change tables, strollers, room dividers, etc.], large educational materials [e.g., sensory and activity tables, art easels, Indigenous drums, and drumming logs, etc.], dramatic and outdoor play equipment [e.g., child-sized kitchen, wheeled toys, climbers, etc.])

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that any proposed equipment and/or furniture purchased for the project meet the requirements of the Child Care Licensing Regulation and that the manufacturer’s instructions have been reviewed for appropriate use within a child care setting for the applicable age(s) of the children in care.

• Additional equipment or other capital costs may be considered, at the discretion of the ministry, if the equipment is required to:
  • Enable the child care centre to become licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation
  • Enable the child care centre to become operational
  • Create new spaces in an existing child care centre and ensure those new spaces are compliant with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation

Section 4.2 Ineligible costs

Ineligible costs include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Any costs (excluding consulting services*) incurred prior to entering a funding agreement

*Consulting services incurred up to 12 months prior to signing the New Spaces Fund funding agreement may be eligible. Costs related to consulting services will be funded up to a maximum of 15% of the overall provincial funding amount.

• Costs related to the purchase of real estate, buildings, portables, and/or commercial space (except for modular buildings)
• Mortgage payments
• Financing costs and interest charges
• Insurance for operations (e.g., insurance to protect the recipient and/or authorized operator from loss)
• Legal costs
• Grant writing
• Academic research
• Project-related costs or fees payable to the applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers) and/or fees payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the project or applicant (or the applicant’s directors or officers)* for products or services

*Indigenous governing entities are exempt from the requirement that project costs be payable to a third party not at arm’s length from the applicant.

• Staff salaries and benefits for early childhood educator and other child care centre staff in relation to the operation of the child care centre and child care spaces
• Remunerations and travel of elected officials
• Networking activities (e.g., costs related to attending or hosting conferences/events/tradeshows, costs associated with directly meeting and/or lobbying with any level of government, meals, and travel expenses, etc.)
• New or updated software
• Housewares (e.g., pots, pans, dishes, flatware, brooms, garbage cans, diaper disposal units, etc.)
• Indoor play structures (e.g., indoor climbers, tunnels, play mats, cushions, etc.)
• Non-capital items, such as toys, consumables (e.g., food, art supplies, etc.), books, games, and small appliances
• Operational start-up costs and activities (e.g., utilities, training activities, planning, curriculum development, and instructional planning, etc.)

The New Spaces Fund prioritizes infant and toddler child care spaces, school age spaces and child care space in underserved regions. License types that serve infants and toddlers include Group Child Care (under 36 months) and Group Multi-Age Child Care.

• Understand the different types of child care in BC

The New Spaces Fund prioritizes projects that create as many spaces throughout the province as possible. The program also priorities:

• Fully inclusive and accessible child care spaces that allow children of all abilities to participate meaningfully. For example: accessible physical design and application of program inclusion policy
• Spaces with non-standard hours of care, such as: extended hours of care from 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m., weekend care, care provided on statutory holidays and/or care provided on days of school closures
• Spaces offering specialized programming for children with support needs, Indigenous children and families, Francophone children, and/or young parents
• Under the Major Capital Grants funding stream, projects that commence within 6 months of application and are scheduled to be completed prior to March 31, 2028

The New Spaces Fund prioritizes space creation projects serving priority populations including:

• Low-income families
• Children with support needs
• Indigenous children and families
• Black and other children and families of colour
• Francophone children
• Families new to Canada
• Young parents (25 years and under)

Major capital projects apply for funding under the Major Capital Grant. The grant supports major projects by providing funding during the design and construction phases of a project.

These projects are ground-up builds, modular builds and major renovations, including expansions and additions, requesting more than $500,000.

Applicants must own the land on which the proposed child care centre will be built. Indigenous Governing Entities are exempt from this requirement.

For grant recipients who intend to secure an authorized operator to run the child care centre, the lease between parties must not be greater than fair-market rent.

More information is available in the 2024-25 Major New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 778KB)

Not-for-profit organizations

• Not-for-profit organizations, including Indigenous not-for-profits, are required to be registered as a society in British Columbia under the Societies Act, as well as be operational for at least 4 years prior to application in order to qualify for a major capital grant
• Not-for-profit organizations that have been registered for less than 4 years, but have a minimum of 1 year with the BC Registry, are able to apply for funding for major capital projects up to $500,000 through the minor capital grants funding stream

Minor capital projects are renovations and equipment-only projects anticipated to be complete within one year, requesting up to $500,000. Applicants can own or lease the land on which the projects are being completed. 

Grant recipients leasing child care centres will be required to share a copy of the executed lease or letter of intent to lease and must demonstrate an arm's length relationship with the land owner.

More information is available in the 2024-25 Minor New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 770KB).

Not-for-profit organizations

Not-for-profit organizations, including Indigenous not-for-profits, are required to be registered as a society in British Columbia under the Societies Act, as well as be operational for at least 1 year prior to application in order to qualify for a minor capital grant.

Leased spaces

Leased spaces are eligible for funding under Minor Capital Funding only. A copy of the executed lease or letter of intent to lease is required and must demonstrate an arm's length relationship. The term of the lease agreement must meet or exceed the length of the service commitment or contain options to extend.  

Lease payments are not an eligible expense for funding under the New Spaces Fund. Any and all costs incurred prior to signing the Funding Agreement, with the exception of consulting services, are not considered for funding, including the down payment to secure a lease. Draft agreements are accepted and may be a viable option for applicants who do not wish to secure a location prior to funding approval.

Applications are evaluated based on their ability to demonstrate principles of universal and accessible design, and commitment to accessibility. 

In your response, include examples that support how the proposed facility incorporates these principles. This may include wheelchair ramps, inclusive bathroom design, and bathroom and stair hand rails etc. 

For resources and information on creating inclusive and accessible child care environments, refer to the following resources:

• Rick Hansen Foundation - Accessibility Resources
• Early Learning Framework
• Inclusion BC 
• Environment Rating Scales

Applications are evaluated on several criteria including years of experience in operating a child care centre and managing capital build projects.

Capital build experience refers to experience managing the development and ground-up builds of facilities or community amenities, such as playgrounds, skating rinks or community gardens. Applicants whose capital build experience includes child care builds, renovations or property acquisitions should include this information in their application.

The ministry considers capital build experience because organizations must navigate regulations, such as child care licensing and local government requirements, which can be challenging. While capital build experience is evaluated, providers who have limited experience are eligible to apply, especially if their proposal will meet other priorities and criteria.

Hiring experienced staff is important, however, it is the organization or identified operating partner that needs to show experience operating a child care centre.

In the space provided, demonstrate your experience managing staff, working with parents, purchasing equipment and supplies, etc.

While experience in child care will be evaluated, providers who have limited experience are encouraged to apply, especially if their proposal will meet other priorities and criteria.

Under the Major Capital Funding stream, at minimum a Class D Estimate accompanied by a detailed project budget must be included as part of the application. The Ministry uses the Class D estimate and detailed project budget to review project costs and contingencies instead of prioritizing at a cost per space.

A Class D cost estimate is a preliminary cost projection for a proposed project as determined by a third-party professional quantity surveyor at arm's length from the applicant. The estimate is typically expressed in analysis format, then summarized by cost per square meter. A Class D cost estimate must include identified site-specific conditions and potential risk items to complete the project. The requirement has been added under the major capital grant funding stream to ensure accuracy when determining the allocation of costs within the overall budget. It helps ensure site-specific conditions and any potential risk items have been identified to account for variances in unknown conditions that cannot be quantified or foreseen for the project. This may include abnormal topographical or sub-surface conditions, contaminated soils, municipal requirements or hazardous materials abatement. 

To mitigate potential budget and project risks, project budgets must identify a contingency amount based on a minimum Class D estimate that accounts for identified site-specific conditions and risk associated with the project.

Applicants need to provide documentation that identifies the community's need for child care. This may include a community child care plan or child care needs assessment. The plan should reference the centre's location and define the community need for more child care spaces.

Community need is determined by analyzing community demographics and child population, current child care availability in the community and an assessment of current and future child care space demands. The ministry prioritizes applications that are able to demonstrate creation of child care spaces that align with the community's child care needs.

Before applying to the New Spaces Fund, applicants are encouraged to consult with local First Nations on their plans. This is one way to support development of projects that serve all members of the community and an opportunity to initiate or strengthen relationships with First Nations governments on whose territory the space is to be developed. 

If the community does not have an available Community Child Care Plan or Child Care Needs Assessment, the ministry will accept other documents that quantify and justify local child care needs. This may include current waitlist data, population data, utilization rates or a letter from a local official outlining community need.

For more information, refer to the funding guidelines.

• 2024-25 Major New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 778KB)
• 2024-25 Minor New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 770KB)

To mitigate potential budget and project risks:

• Major capital funding stream project budgets must identify a contingency amount based on a minimum Class D estimate that accounts for identified site-specific conditions and risk associated with the project
• Minor capital funding stream project budgets are required to include a contingency fund that represents at least 10% of the total project costs related to the child care build

Not-for-profit applicants to both the major and minor funding streams must provide proof of 10% of total project costs. This includes eligible expenses, ineligible expenses and contingency funds.

Loans and other funding contributions are considered as an organization's financial contribution. Volunteer contributions are excluded. The applicant must demonstrate that they have their contribution in place at the time of application.

Please contact program staff at 1-888-338-6622 (Option 5) to discuss what you need to provide in your submission.

Applications must be authentic and unique as they are evaluated based on their project's specific criteria.

For example, project specifics will depend on community to be served, geographic location, number of spaces and ages of children. To ensure accuracy in both evaluation and funding, the information provided by the applicant must be accurate to the project. This includes scope of work and child care centre spaces proposed in the application. 

Projects with known cost drivers, such as unique site development requirements and building in rural or remote locations, resulting in an overall higher project cost, may be subject to increased ministry evaluation timelines due to additional levels of review.

Applicants must provide proof of final ownership of the facility at the time of application. This may be in the form of an agreement or contract signed by both parties showing the funding recipient as the owner.

Section 6.3 of the application form asks applicants to provide information about specialized programming to support the applicable demographic.

For example, if the application states that programming for Indigenous children will be provided, details on the specific programming or services must be included. If a question is checked "yes" with no additional information or supporting documentation, the response will be insufficient to fully complete the evaluation process.

The ministry is currently reviewing new mandate commitments, provincial child care data and feedback from communities and the child care sector to inform next steps for future space creation. Information about the New Spaces Fund will be shared with the sector when available.

If you have not already done so, we encourage you to sign up for the ChildCareBC Bulletin to receive child care sector updates directly to your inbox.  

In 2024-25, the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund received more applications than available funding. The program also saw an increase in larger and more complex applications than previous intakes. This required additional time to carefully review each application.

Yes. Ineligible and unsuccessful applicants may request feedback on their applications. Instructions on how to request feedback or ministry review are available in the decision letters.

The ministry acknowledges that the construction sector has shifted resulting in increased costs. Project costs can vary based on the scope of the project, categories of care and the type of build. Value for money, including overall project costs and cost per space are an important factor in the ministry’s evaluation of project proposals. The ministry also considers program intent and policies for project proposals to maximize the number of spaces throughout British Columbia. At minimum, a Class D Estimate accompanied by a detailed project budget must be included as part of the application process under the major capital funding stream.

The ministry selects the most viable projects that meet the New Spaces Fund's key priorities. Specific types of organizations are not prioritized over others. Eligible organizations can apply to for major and minor capital project funding through the program. Leased spaces are eligible for funding under minor capital funding only, and owned spaces are eligible for both major and minor capital funding. 

We know that improving access for B.C. families requires long-term, sustainable growth that aligns with the capacity of the sector's workforce that is needed to deliver these important services. Learn more about how government is taking action to recruit and retain early childhood professionals and lift up the child care sector on the Support for Early Childhood Professionals web page. 

As a recipient of the New Spaces Fund, the organization is obligated to maintain insurance with insurers licensed in Canada. The contractor will have their insurance and the recipient will need to secure insurance.

Once funding is approved and you begin your project, you will be required to obtain the required insurance detailed in Schedule D of the funding agreement. This includes course of construction insurance and wrap-up liability insurance from the start date of construction until the completion date. You must also complete the Certificate of Insurance, retain this document for your records and ensure it is available to the Province within 10 business days when requested. A broker will be able to assist you with obtaining insurance for your project.  

No, the intention of the New Spaces Fund is to create new licensed child care spaces. If the project is relocating and not creating new child care spaces, it does not qualify for funding. However, if the organization is moving to a new location to increase the number of spaces, it may be eligible. If the relocation is required due to emergency circumstances, it may be eligible for funding through the ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund.

Extending hours of existing school-aged care spaces to include either before-school or after-school care, does not create new spaces. If a new project proposes before- OR after-school care only, the spaces are considered half spaces. A full-time licensed space offers a minimum of 4 hours care per day.

For before and after school spaces, this means before-school space for 2 hours and an after-school space for 2 hours, at minimum to count as a full-time space.

Eligible project costs not listed on the approved budget that are incurred after signing the funding agreement can be listed in the final Completion Report and may be considered for funding at the ministry's discretion. With the exception of consulting services, any costs incurred prior to signing the funding agreement are not eligible and will not be considered for funding. For more details, refer to the funding guidelines.

• 2024-25 Major New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 778KB)
• 2024-25 Minor New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines (PDF, 770KB)

No. Rezoning applications do not need to be completed prior to applying. However, applicants should understand their local municipal, federal or Indigenous Governance requirements and have started any required rezoning process, or be aware of the rezoning rules and associated costs.