The Minister of Families tabled significant changes to the Educational Childcare Act and put forward a number of provisions aimed at facilitating the creation of 37,000 new places. The government thinks that this should eventually meet the needs. We must wish it. Ardently.
Among the elements put forward by the Minister for Families, the concern expressed about the fate of children from families living in disadvantaged areas particularly catches my attention.
Thus, the government obliges itself in this new version of the Law to launch a call for projects within six months where a lack of places is expected. This provision now removes the faster creation of new places from the endless tussle with the Treasury Board or from pressure from better-off communities closer to governments. It was high time.
And, aware of the unacceptable differences in accessibility to childcare centers between disadvantaged and advantaged communities, the government is granting itself new powers, including that of allowing the minister to take charge of the construction and management of new facilities if certain communities do not respond. little or no calls for projects. In other words, the government recognizes that the mobilization, expertise and concertation required to create new facilities are not available in certain communities, precisely in those where the presence of a quality facility would meet the needs of local residents. most vulnerable children. There are in fact 2.5 times fewer places in childcare centers in the most disadvantaged areas than in the most advantaged areas (brief by the Director of Public Health, 2021).
The minister legitimately gives himself the power to correct a participatory approach which, just as desirable as it may be, has undoubtedly introduced for too long an unfortunate distortion to the detriment of the children of these communities.
The government has also imposed on childcare centers and subsidized services to give priority to children living in contexts of socio-economic vulnerability in their admission practices. Since the time that we deplore the under-representation of these children in educational childcare services, we can only applaud this measure. The scientific literature is unanimous on this point: these are the children who benefit the most from quality educational childcare services throughout their lives, including upon arrival at school.
However, they must first appear on the waiting list. The game is not won. Very many parents of these children still feel embarrassed or do not see the point of registering their child for multiple reasons: disapproval of their cultural environment, shyness or mistrust of “governmental” institutions, lack of confidence. information on the positive impact that their child can derive from it, false but widespread impression that these places are reserved for children whose parents are employed, prices still too prohibitive for their meager budget, non-existent transport to the service. Prioritizing these children on the waiting list removes one of the many obstacles to their under-representation. But an intensive and concerted effort to canvass and support, including financial, with these families is absolutely essential if we really want to change the situation.
In short, this government intends to loosen the network of educational childcare services for our children who need them the most. We must salute this and hope that he will make all the necessary efforts.
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