The Early Learning and Child Care Act (ELCCA) came into force on September 1, 2024. This new Act expands the purpose for which a child care grant may be paid to include establishing a child care facility, improving the inclusivity in child care for children with support needs and facilitating the design and delivery of Indigenous child care programs. In addition, regulations to support the ELCCA have been developed; the Early Learning and Child Care Regulations replace the Child Care Subsidy Regulations and provide enhanced supports to further improve the equitability and delivery of the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) in specific child care circumstances.
Other Changes to the Early Learning and Child Care Act
The ELCCA also expands the role of the Provincial Child Care Council (PCCC) by authorizing the PCCC to make recommendations respecting child care beyond child care funding.
The ELCCA further enhances transparency and accountability by mandating the Province to create annual reports on measures taken across various sectors to promote access to affordable, high-quality, inclusive and culturally safe child care. These include measures taken to support Indigenous child care.
Enhanced Affordable Child Care Benefit
The ACCB is a monthly payment to help eligible families with the cost of child care. Factors like income, family size and type of care determine how much support families receive. Families need to renew their application every year, and an average of 35,600 children are supported each month with reduced fees of up to $1,250 per month, per child.
As of September 1, 2024, enhanced ACCB supports are now available to families when their child care is arranged or recommended by an Indigenous authority under Indigenous law. This means that families will receive the same support with their child care costs, regardless of whether their child care is arranged or recommended by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies, or under Indigenous law. These changes support Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services and do not change eligibility requirements or reduce funding amounts to families who have not had their child care arranged or recommend by an Indigenous authority.
Please visit the ChildCareBC web page for further information on the implementation of the ELCCA and the ELCC Regulations which will replace the Child Care Subsidy Regulations.