The B.C. government is increasing the amount of money municipalities can receive to buy land for child-care centres in a bid to open up more licensed spaces.
Under the changes, municipalities and regional districts can apply for up to $4 million, an increase of $3 million from the previous cap on funding applications.
Katrine Conroy, the minister of children and family development, says local governments have asked for help to create child-care spaces to help attract employers and boost their economies.
The province says Osoyoos received $900,000 under the program last year to create 18 new licensed child-care spaces at a centre in the community.
In last spring’s budget, the province allocated $1.3 billion to be spent over three years on its child-care program.
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The NDP promised in the last election campaign to provide $10-a-day child care, which is being tested until next March at 53 facilities across B.C.
The Canadian Press
