Over 2,500 essential service workers have been referred to child care providers

VICTORIA— More than 2,500 essential service workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic have been referred to open child care spaces through the Province’s new child care matching process.

Over 2,650 essential service workers have been referred to a licensed child care provider through the provinces matching plan, which helps match parents who are working on the frontlines of B.C.’s COVID-19 response and have children up to five years of age in finding childcare providers.

The spaces are prioritized for children whose parents work in public health and health services, social services and law enforcement, first responders and emergency responders and emergency response sectors. Any additional spaces are going to families working in other essential roles.

For essential workers with children older than five years, the Ministry of Education has been working with school districts and independent schools across the province to ensure these students have access to care before and after school hours.