Childcare centre fee waiver
Asked the Town to waive or cover its fees for a new 75-space childcare centre. The fees came to $144,554.
- Asked
- $144,554 (fees paid)
- Received
- $0
- Times at Council
- 2
- Where it stands
- Referred to 2027.
Who asked
Qualicum School District.
What they asked for
Waive development and building permit fees for a new 75-space childcare centre at Qualicum Beach Elementary, and pay Town-assessed fees from the community development account.
How the amount breaks down: The District’s letter named no amount. Staff reported the fees it had already paid: Town development cost charges $43,588.17 + Regional District development cost charges $38,239.12 + building permit and other fees $62,726.86 (the remainder) = $144,554.15. The Town collects the Regional District’s charges but does not set them.
The centre opens in early 2027. The project cost rose from $4,937,100 to $5,069,840. The provincial ChildCareBC maximum is $5,018,927.29, leaving a $50,912.71 shortfall for the playground and equipment. On Sep 9, 2026, staff offered Council the option of a one-time contribution of up to $50,912.71 from 2026 surplus.
What Council decided
Jul 31: postponed, to ask how the Town can charge development cost charges on institutional development. Sep 9: referred to 2027 Strategic Planning.
How they voted: Jul 31: moved by Harrison, seconded by Westbroek. Unanimous (4–0, Skipsey absent). Sep 9: vote not yet public (minutes not posted).
Reason given
Staff recommended declining: provincial law (Local Government Act s. 563) does not allow the development cost charges to be waived for this project; there is no budget to pay the Regional District’s charges on the District’s behalf; and Town Policy 3000-6 prohibits grants-in-aid. Council did not adopt that recommendation. It postponed, then referred the request to 2027.
Reasons are paraphrased from the minutes and staff reports, not direct quotes.
Timeline
- Special Council
- Regular Council
Sources
Official Town of Qualicum Beach documents. They open as PDFs on qualicumbeach.com.
- Special Council agenda, Jul 31, 2026 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Special Council minutes, Jul 31, 2026 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Regular Council agenda and staff reports, Sep 9, 2026 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Council Corner, Sep 9, 2026 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Last checked September 19, 2026. Report a mistake.