Nanaimo Report Confirms Accessible Child Care in Crisis Under NDP

NANAIMO, BC: Families in Nanaimo are facing a child care crisis. The 2025 State of the Child Report reveals that there are just 29 licensed spaces for every 100 children. In turn, parents are left on wait lists juggling costs, pushed out of the workforce, and struggling to find support for children with extra needs.

Government data confirms the shortage: Nanaimo has only 611 infant–toddler spaces and 2,224 school-age spaces for more than 17,000 children.

“Families in Nanaimo are living through a child care deficit that is completely unacceptable, and 76% of parents are struggling to find care,” said Reann Gasper, MLA for Abbotsford–Mission and Opposition Critic for Child Care.“My heart goes out to the families trying to find accessible, safe, and reliable child care,” said Gasper.

The report also highlighted serious gaps for children with disabilities and behavioural needs, who are often denied access because centres cannot provide the necessary support. “Families are being told they have a space, only to be pushed out because centres lack staff and resources. For parents already managing complex care needs, that’s devastating, and once again vulnerable children are left without help. That’s not access.”

Former NDP Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen admitted on X yesterday that it will take 80 years to achieve universal child care. Gasper noted it’s the same plan the NDP promised in 2001 under Mike Farnworth, then repackaged in 2017 as the ten-year $10-a-Day plan.

“Two plans, eight years back in power, and $9 billion later, families are still left with insufficient child care services,” said Gasper.

“This crisis in Nanaimo is a microcosm of what we are seeing across the province. Parents and children deserve accessible child care in British Columbia, and they are not getting it under this government.”

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Francesca Guetchev, Communications Officer
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