B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has come forward to explain his family’s participation in the provincial $10-a-day child-care initiative amid criticism from the Conservatives. Eby clarified that one of his children was already enrolled in a child-care center prior to its inclusion in the $10-a-day program. In response, his family voluntarily made a donation to support the center and ensure that resources could be extended to other families in need within the community. Eby reiterated their intention to make a similar contribution for their youngest child attending the same facility.
During a press briefing, Eby refrained from disclosing the exact donation amount or if it was utilized for tax benefits. He emphasized that his family opted not to avail themselves of the discount provided by the $10-a-day program, covering the difference in fees to support the child-care center.
In light of the ongoing snap provincial election campaign, the B.C. Conservatives have raised concerns about Eby’s family benefiting from the subsidized child-care program. They highlighted Eby’s substantial compensation as premier and criticized his family’s affluent status in connection with accessing the $10-a-day child care arrangement.
Responding to the criticism, Margareta Dovgal, the B.C. Conservative candidate for Vancouver-Yaletown, expressed disappointment over the situation, noting the challenges faced by many British Columbians with expensive child care costs. Dovgal underscored the contrast between Eby’s family securing a coveted $10-a-day spot while others, including a single mom juggling multiple jobs, remain on lengthy waitlists for such opportunities.
The $10-a-day child-care program is managed by independent businesses that opt to participate, with access contingent on each facility’s licensed capacity and waiting lists, according to information from the provincial government. When a child-care center joins the $10-a-day initiative, existing spaces are automatically transitioned to the program, expanding affordable care options for families. As of the latest available data from 2024, over 13,200 $10-a-day child-care spots were available across British Columbia.
Amidst the political discourse, the B.C. NDP has criticized the Conservative party for its purported silence on potential changes to child-care fee structures. Eby highlighted concerns that the Conservatives may propose cuts to vital child-care programs, although specific details of their strategy have not been officially presented. CBC News has reached out to the B.C. Conservatives for further insights into their child-care policy proposals.
