ChildCareBC Bulletin

Edition 111, December 18, 2025

Archived editions

Holiday greetings from Minister Lisa Beare 

Dear Child Care Partners,

As we head into holiday season and the close of another busy year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes to you and the children and families you support every day.

This year, our shared focus has been on building more spaces and building environments where children can learn, grow and thrive. Through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund – and with your partnership – we have welcomed new child care centres into communities throughout B.C., including First Nations and Métis-led programs that reflect the cultures, languages and strengths of their communities, bringing more high-quality, affordable child care closer to home. During my visits, I’ve seen firsthand how these investments come to life through your care, professionalism, and dedication.

What I see and hear from you is a deep commitment to children and a clear understanding of what works and what needs to change. Families trust you with their children every day and that trust is earned through your skills and compassion. We see you – showing up day after day for children and families throughout our province.

Alongside the incredible work happening in your centres, our government also made progress at the legislative level. We passed Bill 19, the School Amendment Act, an important step forward, and one that received broad support across the legislature and from many of you. These changes pave the way for more child care on school grounds and remove barriers so school boards can offer care for children of all ages, year-round. Your feedback and advocacy helped make this possible, opening the door for schools to be thriving community hubs that support children and families from early years through to graduation.

We also took action to protect parents from unfair child care fees through updates to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative policy. Effective April 1, 2026, providers will be required to offer at least 9.5 hours of care before charging extra fees for extended hours of service. While most providers will not be affected by this policy, this update will create consistency across the sector, level the playing field for majority of providers and protect hardworking families’ pocketbooks. 

This year, we welcomed new members to the Provincial Child Care Council and created more opportunities for a diverse array of perspectives to inform future policy and programming. Consistent, meaningful engagement through the council and other tables will remain central to my work in 2026. Your voices are essential as we continue building a child care system that works for families, children and the people who deliver care every day.

Thank you again for everything you do for children and families in British Columbia and for your continued partnership with our government. I hope you find time to rest and recharge over the holidays.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Government of B.C., I wish you a joyful holiday season filled with family and friends. I look forward to continuing our work together in the new year.

With gratitude,

Lisa Beare

Minister of Education and Child Care

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A message from Parliamentary Secretary for Child Care Rohini Arora 

Dear Child Care Partners,

With the holiday season upon us, I want to express my deep gratitude for the incredible work you do to support families and children throughout B.C.

Over the past year as Parliamentary Secretary for Child Care, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you and witnessing firsthand the impact you make every day on the children in your care. Being welcomed into your centres, I was always struck by the beautiful, nurturing spaces, the joy and laughter of children, and the unique ways each program supports families. Thank you for sharing the amazing work you do.

These experiences have inspired me to broaden my efforts to support children and families in B.C. Starting in 2026, I will be stepping down as parliamentary secretary in order to focus on my role as the chair of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth. While my passion and commitment to the success of our kids has not changed, my role as chair requires working across-ministries and with independent officers of the legislature to address the well-being of children and youth in British Columbia. I look forward to continuing our shared vision of giving every child the best possible start.

I have learned so much from each and every one of you, through your experience, your dedication and your passion, and I will bring that with me into the new year. I hope you find time to rest and spend time with loved ones over the holiday season.

Warm regards,

Rohini Arora

Parliamentary Secretary for Child Care

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Child Care Operating Funding 2026 - 2027 renewal

Starting January 2026, child care providers may renew their Child Care Operating Funding and opt into the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement programs for 2026-27. For further details refer to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative funding guidelines, the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement funding guidelines and additional upcoming communications.

This year, there are no major changes to base operating funding or the wage enhancement program. As in previous years, providers joining the fee reduction program must start with fees that reflect typical rates in their region. Providers already in the fee reduction program may increase fees by up to 3% of the regional median fee.

To avoid gaps in funding, applicants to the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program should renew their Child Care Operating Funding agreements while waiting for a decision on their $10-a-day program application.

Please note an important policy shift: As of April 1, 2026, providers in the fee reduction program may only charge optional fees for extended hours after offering a minimum of 9.5 hours of care during regular operating hours.

Families may also be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, a monthly payment to help with the cost of child care.

For more information please see the fee reduction funding guidelines or wage enhancement funding guidelines. Important timelines and additional information is available on the operating funding web page. If you have questions or need support, call the Child Care Service Centre at 1-888-338-6622 (press 2), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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School Amendment Act Receives Royal Assent

Changes to the School Act have now passed, meaning school districts in B.C. can now operate more kinds of childcare that families need. School districts can now provide child care to children of all ages and during non-school days like winter, spring and summer breaks. They will also be able to recover reasonable costs to help keep child care programs sustainable, similar to how non-profit child care centers operate.

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First Early Learning and Child Care Act Annual Report

The 2024 - 2025 Early Learning and Child Care Act Annual Report is now available on the Our Plan: ChildCareBC web page. The report shares actions taken to support the design and delivery of affordable, inclusive, accessible and quality child care in B.C.

The report highlights successes from 2024 and 2025 including:

• Establishing a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding with First Nations Leadership Council and Canada
• Eliminating waitlist fees at child care centres participating in Child Care Operating Funding and Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative programs
• Releasing B.C.’s Inclusive Child Care Strategy, which outlines goals and actions to embed inclusion across the child care system
• Creating a streamlined application process for boards of education seeking to create child care on school grounds
• Supporting the child care workforce through testing and collecting feedback on a wage grid under the Operating Funding Model test
• Introducing the Learning in the Primary Years as a resource to help teachers support children’s development from kindergarten through Grade 3

This is the first annual report published under the Early Learning and Child Care Act.

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Feelings First E-Learning module for parents and caregivers

The social and emotional health of a child is every bit as important as their physical health. It impacts how they express emotions, deal with stress, develop friendships, and helps to determine their connections to the world around them through stories, conversations and play.

Feelings First is a system-wide provincial initiative to help children in the early years build strong social and emotional foundations through everyday interactions. The new Feelings First e-learning modules are designed for early years professionals, educators, parents and caregivers alike. These free courses explore how social and emotional development unfolds from birth to age five, with valuable insights and advice from child health experts.

Each self-paced module includes short videos, real-world examples, and ready-to-use strategies that can be applied in any early learning environment. Please visit the Feelings First website to learn more.

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