SAANICH – New Democrat MLAs Nina Krieger and Lana Popham say that families in Victoria and Saanich will benefit from new child care spaces that are opening on SD61 school grounds.

“As our region continues to grow, having child care spaces on school grounds will help families thrive,” said Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. “These new spaces will make life easier for parents by giving them an easier drop-off and pickup location.”

In the Greater Victoria School District, 76 new spaces are opening, with 40 at the McKenzie School Kids Klub Centre, and 36 at a childcare centre at Victoria High.

“Our community is a great place for families to settle and grow, with access to the outdoors and nearby amenities,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South. “These new child care spaces are one more way we are supporting families now and into the future.”

The province is providing $23.5 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces fund to create 640 new child care spaces in 12 communities around B.C. The New Spaces Fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-2027 to 2030-2031.

Once open, families will benefit from affordable child care fees, through the Province’s fee reduction program, which reduces the cost of child care by up to $900 per child per month. Families that need additional support with the cost of child care may also be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit.     

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/32703