City of Vancouver makes record investment in child care

A new report presented to City Council today outlined the largest increase in child care funding in the City’s history, as the 2012 budget surplus - $5 million – was invested into the Childcare Reserve to support new child care spaces, according to a press release from the office of the mayor.

“We are committed to investing in child care as a way to make Vancouver more affordable for young families, and improve early childhood education,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “At a time when demand for child care far outstrips supply due to a lack of funding from senior levels of government, the City is stepping up to help make Vancouver a more supportive city for families and children.”

Vancouver’s Childcare Reserve was established in 1991 to provide funding that supports the high cost of infant and toddler care, helping keep costs down for families. In 2004, City Council created the Joint Childcare Council, where the City, Park Board, and School Board coordinate planning efforts and partnerships with private and non-profit partners to enable new child care spaces. After it was cancelled in 2006, Mayor Robertson and City Council reinstated it in 2009.

From 2009-2011, the JCC exceeded its benchmark of 300 new spaces by an additional 153. The target for 2012-2014 is 500 new spaces in Vancouver.

The $5 million is the biggest one-time increase for child care in the City’s history. Demand for child care is much greater than what is available, with only 19 per cent of children having access to space in Vancouver.