Part 2: The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI)

This is the program that's quietly reducing daycare bills for the vast majority of BC families — even if you've never heard its name.

Unlike $10-a-day, which only applies at specific selected sites, the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is available at the large majority of licensed child care providers across the province, group and family settings alike. It's not income-tested, and families don't apply for it directly — if your child is enrolled at a participating provider, the reduction is simply applied to your monthly invoice automatically.

The amount of the reduction depends on the age of the child and the type of care:

• Up to $900/month for group infant/toddler care (under 36 months)
• Smaller, tiered amounts for family child care, preschool-age children, and school-age care

Because CCFRI isn't based on income, it doesn't matter whether your household earns a little or a lot — every family at a participating centre gets the same reduction for the same care category. Providers agree to limit their fees and fee increases in exchange for receiving CCFRI funding directly from the province.

If you're comparing daycare prices and a centre's advertised rate seems high, it's worth asking directly whether they participate in CCFRI — the actual amount you'd pay each month is often meaningfully lower than the sticker price once the reduction is applied. This is also useful to understand if you're a Responsible Adult running your own home daycare, since it directly affects how families evaluate your pricing.