I am delighted to report that there has been a tremendous response to the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s call for applications to the $12.5 million dollar major capital funding program for the creation of new licensed child care spaces.

With this funding, and the interest shown by the child care community, we will exceed the target set last fall to create 2,000 spaces by 2010. In fact, more than 2,200 licensed spaces are expected to open as construction and renovation projects are completed over the next two years.

A total of 114 new child-care projects in 60 B.C. communities received funding to assist with the costs of building new facilities, renovating leased buildings or expanding existing centres. All of them were made possible through community-based partnerships – many that will create child care and family service hubs, and make use of vacant public spaces such as school classrooms and municipal buildings.

The ministry is continuing to make capital funding available for more family child care providers each month and I think we can look forward to additional licensed spaces coming on line this year.