On June 24, 2025, YWCA Metro Vancouver joined forces with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC) to support the relaunch of the $10aDay campaign for universal, affordable and high-quality child care in BC. The press conference brought together media, coalition members, parents, advocates and supporters of universal child care.
According to CCCABC, just 26% of children aged 0-12 in BC have access to any type of licensed child care, and only 10% of those are part of the $10-a-day system. Most families are paying over $1,600 a month, if they can manage find space. Provincial spending for child care has stalled and BC is now falling behind other provinces. The call to action: BC needs to get back on track through increased investments into child care from the provincial government.
In her remarks, YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO Erin Seeley emphasized the organization’s role as a major child care provider, operating four child care centres in Vancouver, and building a fifth in Burnaby. Three YWCA centres already operate under the $10-a-day model. But the need far outpaces availability: more than 4,000 families are currently on waitlists for YWCA Early Learning and Child Care centres.
“We are committed to expanding access to child care and working with our partners and allies to demand better from our policymakers on behalf of all the families who need quality, affordable child care,” said Seeley. “It’s time for BC to deliver on a truly universal $10-a-day child care system.”
Sharon Gregson, spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care Campaign, has dedicated decades to advocating for accessible child care in BC and across Canada. She was joined by guest speakers Katrina Chen, former BC MLA and Minister of State for Child Care, Melissa Higgs, Principal at HCMA Architecture + Design and immediate past chair of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and Dr. Jim Stanford, Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work, and author of the report The Economic Benefits of Expanded Child Care Services in British Columbia.
“In 2018, because of $10aDay advocacy, BC became a national leader in child care and for a few years, there was significant progress in making affordable child care available to more BC families, and improving wages for educators. That progress has now stalled,” said Gregson. “With just three years remaining in the government's 10-year plan, the Province has flatlined provincial child care funding in the last two budgets, with no new provincial funds committed to achieving the promise of quality, universal $10aDay child care by 2028.”
Two parents also shared powerful personal stories. Mariam Roya spoke about the challenges of raising a child without access to affordable care, while Sophie Luckhart highlighted the transformative impact $10aDay child care has had on her family’s well-being.
New Tools Highlight Disparities in Access
At the event, CCCABC launched two new online tools that shed light on just how far BC is from achieving its promise of universal $10-a-day child care. These tools provide a clear, data-driven picture of the current landscape and the inequities families face when trying to access affordable care.
Unfair Access: This tool highlights the significant gap between the BC government’s 2018 commitment to universal child care and the current reality. Data shows large disparities by school district: in some areas, only 8% of children aged 0 through Grade 7 have access to a licensed space, while in the best-served districts, access rises to just 44%. See how your school district is faring.
Unfair Fees: While most provinces in Canada have adopted set fees for child care — capping what families pay at a fixed, affordable rate (such as $10/day) — BC has not. Here, access to affordable care functions like a lottery. Only about 25% of children from birth through Grade 7 can access any licensed child care at all. Of those, only a fraction of spaces are part of the $10-a-day program. Families must not only be lucky enough to find a space — but extraordinarily lucky to find one they can afford. Check your odds of “winning the lottery”.
More Than a Family Issue: An Economic Issue
“BC’s investment in child care services since 2019 generated important economic gains for the province, its residents and the BC government. Employment growth, earnings, labour supply and GDP were all boosted by the investments made in child care, and the BC government has reaped significant incremental revenues as a result of that economic progress,” said Stanford. “It is important to continue expanding the supply of $10-per-day spaces in order to keep these economic benefits flowing.”
Affordable child care is not only essential for children and their parents; it is a cornerstone of a healthy, gender‑equitable economy. When families can’t secure an affordable space, it is usually mothers who scale back paid work or leave the workforce altogether. The loss is two‑fold: families forgo income, and the province misses out on talent, productivity and tax revenue.
As Dr. Jim Stanford highlighted, every dollar invested in $10‑a‑day spaces returns multiple dollars in economic growth by increasing labour‑force participation, boosting household earnings and growing provincial revenues.
Universal $10‑a‑day child care is smart economic policy. It strengthens families, closes gender gaps and fuels BC’s long‑term prosperity.
Our Calls for Change on Child Care are Being Amplified in the Following Media Outlets:
Our Ongoing Commitment
YWCA Metro Vancouver remains committed to advocating for accessible, affordable, high-quality child care for all families. We are proud to stand alongside partners, allies and advocates in this urgent call for action.
Read more about YWCA’s child care advocacy or watch a short video interview and hear from our early childhood educators as they share what they love most about their work.
The YWCA also offers a training program for aspiring early childhood educators. More information about the program, YWCA Discover, can be found here.
