What BC's $10 a Day Childcare Pause Means for Richmond Families
If you've been hoping a $10 a Day childcare space would open near you in Richmond, the news out of Victoria this February was hard to read. BC's Budget 2026 paused the universal $10 a Day program — freezing new provider enrollment and space expansion for roughly three years. Families already in $10/day sites are fine. Everyone else is waiting longer.
Here's what actually changed, what it means for Richmond families, and where SSOCC's Northriver Junior Kindergarten fits in.
What did Budget 2026 actually change?
Based on the Ministry of Education and Child Care's February 17, 2026 announcement:
No new childcare centres can join the $10 a Day program during the freeze
Existing $10/day sites can't add more $10/day spaces
The New Spaces Fund for creating new licensed centres has been closed
The pause runs approximately three years — through roughly 2029
Families and providers already in the program are unaffected
$330 million is going toward stabilizing existing programs, not expanding $10/day
$25 million is earmarked for before- and after-school care on school grounds
Childcare advocates, including the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC and the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia, have described this as a relief compared to outright cuts — but also a real slowdown from what families were promised.
Is the $10 a Day program ending?
Here's the honest picture:
Numerous 10/day locations have left 10/day or closed down as the OFM contracts were impossible for many operators to work within - meaning the total 10/day locations in BC has decreased.
Already in a $10/day site? Your fees stay capped and your space is secure. While the government has promised no changes to the 10/day program during this pause, there have been changes to how they are interpreting the contracts. There has been no information provided as to what the 10/day contracts will look like when renewed in March 2027. If sustainable contracts are not offered, operators may need to leave the 10/day program in March 2027. Stay tuned!
On a waitlist for an existing $10/day site? You can still be offered a space if one opens up.
Waiting for a new $10/day site to open? That will not happen until at least 2029.
What this means for Northriver JK families
SSOCC's Northriver Junior Kindergarten (10071 Finlayson Drive, Richmond) is an existing $10 a Day site — designated before the Budget 2026 freeze — so its status doesn't change:
Northriver continues as a $10 a Day site as long as our contract with 10/day is viable.
Current families continue paying $200/month for the core day plus after care (8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Spaces will open as children graduate — including roughly 12 spots anticipated in July 2027. Spaces are offered to existing students at our Heron location before being offered to families on our waitlist.
What the freeze does mean is that SSOCC will not be able to expand our 10/day spaces beyond Northriver JK.
Other affordability options — because $10/day isn't the only path
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) CCFRI is a provincial subsidy applied directly to participating providers — no income test, no application required from parents. It can save families up to roughly $900 per child per month. SSOCC applies CCFRI automatically to every family in our non-$10/day programs.
CCFRI reduces fees for infants and toddlers by 900.00 / month and for three-to-five year olds by 545.00 per month.
Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) ACCB is income-tested and can reduce fees further on top of CCFRI. Families apply directly to the province. The maximum ACCB payment for infants and toddlers is 1200 / month and for three to five year olds is 550 / month - reducing tuition payments significantly.
Practical advice for Richmond families right now
Join waitlists at existing $10/day sites you can travel to. Spaces are finite for the next three years — every existing site matters more now, not less.
Don't wait for a new $10/day site to open nearby. It's not happening before approximately 2029.
Look at CCFRI-enrolled programs. The savings are real and automatic.
Apply for ACCB if your income qualifies.
Tour multiple programs. A high-quality program at CCFRI-reduced fees is usually a better choice than an indefinite wait.
Common questions
Is $10/day cancelled? Not exactly. New enrollment and expansion are paused for roughly three years. Existing sites and families continue as before. There is no information about what will happen after 2029.
Will fees change at an existing $10/day site? No. The province has been clear that current families see no changes during the stabilization period. However, these changes do not apply to the 10/day contract itself or to how the province interprets that contract - meaning there may be changes, but not ones that impact the 200/month fee.
Can SSOCC add more $10/day spaces? Not during the freeze. Our $10/day allocation stays at Northriver JK until the province reopens enrollment.
What's the best affordable option if I can't get a $10/day space? Any CCFRI-enrolled program reduces your fees by hundreds of dollars per month automatically. If you qualify, ACCB will further reduce your fees.
Where can I find the official announcement? Search "ChildCareBC Bulletin" on gov.bc.ca, or look up "BC Budget 2026 childcare" for press coverage of the February 17 announcement.
How can I secure a spot at SSOCC Northriver 10/day program? We encourage you to book a tour of the program, and if the program seems to be a fit for your family, join our waitlist. However, we offer 10/day spaces to families at our other 0-6 year old programs before offering spaces to our waitlist - so consider Southlands Multiage or Heron Toddlers / Junior Kindergarten in the meantime. This means priority access to 10/day spaces that open up when children graduate from Northriver!
This article reflects information available as of May 2026, following BC's Budget 2026 announcement on February 17, 2026. Always confirm current details with the Ministry of Education and Child Care at gov.bc.ca/childcarebc and with SSOCC directly.
