BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on Friday announced a bold, common sense plan to address BC’s childcare crisis.

“All families deserve access to childcare that helps their children thrive while allowing parents to return to work when they choose,” Rustad said. “Young families are the future of our province, but with the affordability crisis worsening, many are being forced to build their future elsewhere.”

Rustad said that for the past seven years, the NDP has promised affordable, accessible childcare, yet nearly 60% of BC parents still report difficulty finding care. BC now ranks last in Canada for childbirths, and many families only have “access” to a waitlist instead of actual childcare spaces. Rustad said this failure is worsened by the NDP’s bias against independent childcare providers, a woman-led industry that supplies the majority of childcare spots across the province.

“It’s time for common sense change,” Rustad stated. “We will expand affordable childcare options, work hand-in-hand with independent providers, and give parents the support they need to care for their children in ways that make sense for them.”

He said that the NDP’s $10-a-day childcare program has left thousands of parents struggling to access affordable care. Recent research from UBC found only 17 low-income single mothers with access to these spaces after months of searching. Independent providers, who serve most BC families, are shut-out of the $10 a Day plan, despite being ready and willing to provide the spaces families need.

The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Expand $10-a-day childcare by ending the funding bias against independent providers and enabling them to open more affordable spaces immediately.
• Prioritize access for those most in need by making $10-a-day spaces available for the kids who have the fewest alternatives.

Rustad emphasized that families deserve choice, not a one-size-fits-all approach to childcare. The Conservative plan will support both independent and government-run childcare, ensuring that families can access the care that fits their needs.

“The majority of independent childcare providers are women leading small businesses in their communities,” said Rustad. “They deliver high-quality care, but government red tape and unequal support are preventing them from expanding and meeting demand. We will change that.”

The BC Conservatives’ plan will:

• Reduce regulatory barriers to open more high-quality childcare spaces in homes, commercial facilities, and public buildings like schools and community centers.
• Provide tax credits for lower- and middle-income families through an expanded BC Family Benefit and Affordable Childcare Benefit, allowing parents to choose the childcare that works best for them, whether outside the home, at home with parents, or with family members.
• Create 24-hour childcare spaces for shift workers and first responders.
• Support schools that want to offer childcare programs.
• Simplify credential conversion for professionals such as teachers and social workers who want to transition into childcare.
• Enable educators to work as Early Childhood Educator assistants during the summer months.

“BC families deserve better,” Rustad said. “It’s time for common sense childcare that delivers real solutions for parents and kids.”