WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 n River’s Edge District (Steveston) Girl Guide Mackenzie Hambleton sings carols with her troupe at Songs in the Snow: A Vintage Christmas at the Steveston Museum on Saturday. The next show, featuring local artists, is on Dec. 16 from 4-6 p.m. For more information, visit HistoricSteveston.ca. More photos on page 18 and at RichmondNews.com. Photos by Boaz Joseph/Special to the News.
What’s inside:
NEWS: School for special needs students could close this month 3
Daycare costs soar
Toddler care third most expensive in Canada, despite more spaces GRAEMEWOOD Staff Reporter
GWOOD@RICHMOND-NEWS.COM
C
hild care fees in Richmond continue to skyrocket, with the city now the third most expensive in Canada for families with toddlers in need of care. According to a report issued Tuesday from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the median monthly child care costs for a toddler in Richmond is $1,200. Infant costs are even higher and there is little relief for when that toddler becomes a preschooler, as monthly preschool fees in Richmond have risen 12 per cent in the past year — more than any other jurisdiction in Canada. The median preschool fee is $980, making it the ninth most expensive city for such families. And despite rising costs, Richmond has actually increased its overall licensed child
care spaces by 46 per cent since 2009 (to 5,802 spaces in 2016). On a per capita basis, Richmond has gone from 15 spaces per 100 children aged 12 and under, to 24 per 100. In Quebec, where child care is heavily subsidized, infant to preschool fees come in at under $200 per month. The most expensive cities are in the Toronto and Vancouver areas. In Surrey, preschool fees cost about $800 per month. The only good news from the report appears to be that wait list fees (where parents pay money for simply being on a list) are only being charged at 13 per cent of child care facilities in 2017, whereas in 2016, nearly one third of facilities had such fees. The report is based on a random sample of facilities across Canada. However, the City of Richmond found similar findings in its 2017-2022 Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy, released earlier this year to city council.
Via a survey, the city found the average (mean) infant fees are $1,271, while toddlers are charged $1,220. Low-income families have been hurt the most, as subsidies from the Ministry of Children and Family Development have not changed in years despite higher costs of living, noted the city. Another challenge is finding spaces for children with special needs. According to the city, the Supported Child Development Program, operated by Richmond Society for Community Living, has seen demand far exceed population growth over the past 12 years, from 150 children to 386. Survey results showed 49 per cent of respondent families are not working full-time, in order to provide alternate care for their children. In reasons cited for not obtaining child care, 42 per cent cited costs, while 12 per cent cited a lack of available spaces. See New page 5
COMMUNITY: Secret Santa still making the rounds 13
SPORTS: Richmond Sockeyes make surprise coaching change 19
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