By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Province testing universal child care at select sites, none in mid-island

Nov 9, 2018 | 11:20 AM

NANAIMO — More than 50 prototype sites are being launched across the province for universal child care, though none are located in the mid-island.

Premier John Horgan announced 53 sites will deliver services to families for no more than $200 a month per child, in an attempt to determine what universal child care may look like for B.C. families.

Under the agreement, child care providers will receive funding for their costs and then reduce the fees parents pay to $200 a month.

The prototype sites are expected to help up to 2,500 children.

“Prototype sites give us a glimpse of what the future of universal child care in B.C. can be and are critical as we design and refine our program moving forward,” Katrina Chen, B.C.’s Minister of State for Child Care, said at the Friday morning press conference in Vancouver.

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She said the project looks to become a model for the New Democrat government’s 10-year plan for affordable, quality child care.

There are five initial sites located around Vancouver Island, though none are located around the mid-island. The closest are in Port Alberni, Duncan and in the Comox Valley.

Day cares had to apply to be a prototype site. Three day cares from Nanaimo applied but weren’t accepted, out of the 300 spaces which did apply. 

The sites will be open until March 31, 2020.

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