BC United rolls out child-care plan promising to 'fix' NDP's $10-a-day promise

Targeting young families and an unfulfilled NDP promise, Kevin Falcon — and his BC United party — are pledging $10-a-day child care.

Targeting young families and an unfulfilled NDP promise, Kevin Falcon — and his BC United party — are pledging $10-a-day child care.

“We are going to fix this problem immediately,” Falcon said at a press conference Thursday held at a daycare in Esquimalt.

The plan for middle and lower income families is income-tested and gives direct subsidies to families, ensuring they pay no more than $200 a month for child care.

It also touts tax credits for parents or grandparents who provide childcare from home.

“This is how were going to get affordable daycare, not just something that's been talked about for the past eight years by the NDP,” Falcon said.

In the past two elections, the NDP have promised $10-a-day daycare across the province. While significant investments have been made in making daycare more affordable, there are still thousands of families in B.C. on waitlists, looking for a spot.

“The criticism is, its not happening fast enough,” said Sharon Gregson, with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.