Parent Resources
November 19, 2025 2025-11-19 10:22Parent Resources
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI), 2022 Updates
The British Columbia provincial government has taken a major step forward in supporting parents seeking childcare and early learning opportunities for their children. On September 23, 2022, they announced exciting updates to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) that could save families an additional $550 per month, on top of any existing subsidies. These changes aim to make childcare more affordable while giving children access to high-quality early learning programs.
Below is what BC’s eligible families need to know about the CCFRI updates taking effect on December 1, 2022.
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is a provincially funded program that provides financial support to eligible, licensed childcare providers (such as LAEL) to reduce and stabilize childcare costs for families. Providers apply for this funding on your behalf, and the savings are passed on to you through reduced tuition and care fees.
This program helps families access high-quality, affordable early learning care. It is available to eligible group or family childcare facilities offering infant, toddler, and preschool care for children up to Kindergarten age.
Starting in December, you may see a larger subsidy reflected on your child’s early learning tuition. Your childcare provider will inform you of the new amount before invoicing. Families can expect up to an additional $550 off their monthly tuition, on top of any funding they were already receiving. Parents who qualify for the full amount could see up to $900 off their monthly childcare costs.
Unlike the Affordable Child Care Benefit, parents do NOT need to apply for CCFRI. If your child attends a participating school (including LAEL), the reduction is automatically applied each month per child. A fee estimator will be available on the BC government website in October, or you may contact your childcare provider for an estimate.
Age Group | 2018+ | New Reductions | 2022 Total |
Under 3 | $350 | $550 | $900 |
Age 3–5 (not in school) | $100 | $445 | $545 |
Kindergarten (before/after school) | $100 | $220 | $320 |
Approximately 96% of eligible BC childcare centres participate in the CCFRI program. These reductions bring the average cost of licensed, full-time childcare from $53/day down to approximately $21/day, making high-quality care far more accessible for families.
LAEL Early Learning is proud to participate in the CCFRI program, helping families access the financial support available to them. If you have questions about CCFRI or other childcare subsidies you may qualify for, please contact your local LAEL principal.
To learn more, visit the Government of BC’s Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative webpage or reach out to your nearest LAEL location for assistance.
LAEL also accepts additional funding. To see your eligibility go to the link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/child-care-benefit/information-for-families
