[local issues] $10 a Day Daycare: The Dream

Daycare is one of the most expensive costs in parenting a child. Expenses start at around $800/month for a non-licensed care provider, and go up to $1600 and even higher for licensed care providers. Nannies are even worse... A minimum wage nanny starts at around $2000/month and goes up for experience and contract requirements.

That is a LOT of money for a two income family, let alone a one income family.

Daycare cost alone is what makes the first five years of a child's life a lot more financially stressful than it could be. This is why one social policy alternative is picking up such support in British Columbia:

The $10/day subsidized daycare plan (Link to Policy Site).

"Under the Plan, new public dollars will go to child care programs to cap parent fees at $10/day for full time care and $7/day for part time care and make it free for families who make less than $40,000 a year. Families could save up to $10,000 a year and many could move out of poverty. Funding would also increase child care workers’ wages to an average of $25 an hour plus benefits" (Vancouver Sun Quote)

While the BC Government is not yet on board, massive amounts of lobbying is currently taking place. a March for Affordable Daycare occurred March 2013.

Quebec already has a similar system in place, and it's improved quality of life immeasurably for families.

If BC decides to follow Quebec's lead, the barriers towards Canadians having families, including choice moms, will noticeably diminish.

I'm crossing my fingers. This could really change the game of planning to parent.