Quebec announces new daycare spaces
Province favours non-profit centres
CBC News
Posted: Feb 7, 2013 8:30 PM ET
Last Updated: Feb 7, 2013 9:27 PM ET
Almost 85 per cent of new spaces will go to non-profit government run daycares. (CBC)
The Parti Québécois government unveiled how it will distribute 15,000 new $7-a-day daycare spaces across the province.
Quebec Families Minister Nicole Léger said every region of the province will get new spaces, including more than 2,000 in Montreal. Another 2,000 will be reserved for the province's underprivileged neighborhoods. And 300 spaces will be set-aside for aboriginal communities, said Léger.
Almost 85 per cent of new spaces will go to non-profit government run CPE daycares, which Léger said offer more consistency across the system.
"We made a choice to favour social equality," she said.
But some private operators say the PQ is making a mistake.
Private centres disappointed
President of The Quebec Private Daycares Association, Sylvain Lévesque, said private daycares are better for parents and tax payers.
"We have exactly the same rules and regulations," said Lévesque. "We develop the spot more rapidly and the spots cost less."
The province will begin taking applications from daycares for the new $7-a-day spaces on February 14. The application window will stay open for four months, ending on June 14.
The PQ has promised to add 28,000 daycare spaces—including the 15,000 announced Thursday and another 13,000 allocated but not created by the former Charest government—to bring the province's total to 250,000 daycare spaces by 2016.
By then, the added annual cost to taxpayers will be an estimated $260-million.
Distribution across the province
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Added 396
Total 5,284
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Added 240
Total 7, 333
Quebec City
Added 1,433
Total 20,436
Mauricie
Added 439
Total 6,909
Estrie
Added 645
Total 9,667
Montreal
Added 2,241
Total 59,735
Outaouais
Added 680
Total 12,295
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Added 268
Total 4,797
Côte-Nord
Added 270
Total 3,092
Nord-du-Québec
Added 160
Total 3,049
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Added 252
Total 2,655
Chaudière-Appalaches
Added 802
Total 12,757
Laval
Added 601
Total 12,909
Lanaudière
Added 1,425
Total 15,309
Laurentides
Added 1,291
Total 17,792
Montérégie
Added 3,122
Total 48,077
Centre-du-Québec
Added 361
Total 6,803
Share Tools
Latest Montreal News Headlines
- Crucifix to stay in National Assembly: Drainville
- PQ minister Bernard Drainville says the crucifix will remain behind the speaker's throne in the National Assembly. more »
- Quebec director Chloé Robichaud gets Cannes ovation
- Montreal filmmaker Chloé Robichaud's debut feature Sarah Prefers to Run (Sarah préfère la course) had a warm welcome Tuesday following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. more »
- 'Lightly felt' earthquake west of Montreal
- Natural Resources Canada is reporting a minor earthquake near Rigaud, Quebec. more »
- Service restored on Montreal metro lines
- Montreal's STM is reporting service is back on all four of its metro lines. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Kids from levelled Oklahoma schools recount deadly tornado
- Children from two Oklahoma schools levelled Monday by a powerful tornado are recounting what it was like to survive the "loud" and "scary" twister, while rescuers near the end of their search for any other remaining survivors or bodies. more »
- Deadly Oklahoma tornado confirmed as most powerful type
- Emergency workers neared the end of their search Tuesday afternoon for survivors in Moore, Okla., following a deadly tornado that weather officials said was now classified among the most powerful type of twister. more »
- Senate sends Duffy expense audit for 2nd internal review
- The Senate decided to send Senator Mike Duffy's audit report back to its internal committee for a second review, despite objections from the Liberal Senate leader, who argued the RCMP should be tasked with the job. more »
- Only 1 set of human remains found at Millard farm, police say
- Hamilton police have confirmed that they are dealing with only a single set of human remains at the Waterloo region farm of Dellen Millard. more »
- Rob Ford faces more calls to address crack allegations
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford went back to work after a holiday weekend, but he wasn't talking about an alleged video that two published reports say shows him smoking what appears to be a crack pipe. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- 'Lightly felt' earthquake west of Montreal
- Service restored on Montreal metro lines
- Quebec director Chloé Robichaud gets Cannes ovation
- Crucifix to stay in National Assembly: Drainville
- Gary Carter honoured with Montreal street name
- Daniel Ratthé eager to return to CAQ caucus
- Thousands push for rejection of Bill 14
- Business conference draws creative minds to Montreal
- Quebecer dead in Mexico after scuba diving incident
