Almost seven-in-ten respondents want action to provide universal school-age child care in the province’s elementary schools.
Vancouver, BC [October 8, 2026] – Most British Columbians want to follow the standard set by other Canadian provinces and territories on child care fees, a new Research Co. poll conducted for the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, more than two thirds of British Columbians (68%) think the next provincial government should make sure all families have access to low capped child care fees, like $10 per day.
Across Canada, child care fees in nine provinces and territories are now capped at a low amount for all families (ranging from $10/day to $22/day). In British Columbia, only 10% of licensed child care is capped at $10 per day, with some families still paying up to $100/day.
More than half of British Columbians (51%) think $10 a day child care would make a “major difference” for families with young children, while 22% believe it would make a “minor difference”.
“British Columbians are still saying that quality, affordable child care is what they want government to deliver,” says Sharon Gregson, provincial spokesperson for the $10aDay Child Care campaign. “It’s good for children, families, women’s equality and our economy.”
More than a third of British Columbians (37%) say they are more likely to vote for candidates who support quality, universal child care with low capped fees—such as $10 per day—in the provincial election scheduled for October 24.
Almost three-in-four British Columbians (73%) are in favour of the next provincial government investing more in child care, ensuring space for all families who need it.
Right now, Early Childhood Educators—who are mostly women—earn $10 per hour less than similarly educated men across British Columbia’s broader labour market. Three-in-four British Columbians (75%) think the next provincial government should close this gender pay gap.
“Sizeable majorities of British Columbians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) (83%) or the BC Green Party (78%) in the 2024 provincial election call for a fair province-wide wage grid for all Early Childhood Educators,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Two thirds of Conservative Party of BC voters in the last election (66%) share this view.”
Almost seven-in-ten British Columbians are also supportive of two other ideas: the next provincial government in British Columbia giving school districts the mandate and resources to provide universal school-age child care in the province’s elementary schools (69%) and the next provincial government making sure child care expansion is formally planned like is done for K-12 schools (also 69%).
Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from October 3 to October 6, 2024, among 805 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Sharon Gregson, $10aDay Child Care Plan.
604.505.5725
[e] info@10aday.caMario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca