One child = one subsidized daycare space

For the next few weeks, you will see Quebec politicians bickering, trying to differentiate themselves from each other.

Through all these disagreements, a promising consensus will undoubtedly go unnoticed.

The CAQ, the PLQ, QS and the PQ all have the objective of offering a subsidized place for each child at the end of the next mandate. Apart from a few details, the same two solutions will be proposed: convert most of the non-subsidized places into subsidized places at $8.70 per day and build new early childhood centers (CPE).

These four parties have the right game plan. The next government will only have to execute it well.

Quebec probably has the best daycare network in North America. But it is very uneven.

The lucky ones: two-thirds (68%) of preschool children have a subsidized place, in a CPE (for the luckiest of the lucky group), in a subsidized private daycare center or in a family environment.

The middle group: 21% of children are in unsubsidized private daycare (up to $50 a day). The bill is high (the tax credit compensates) and the quality of the services is generally lower.

The unlucky: 11% of children (33,800 children) do not have a place in daycare. The parents must find another solution. Have the children looked after by the grandparents. Find a daycare outside the system, with no guarantee of quality. The worst scenario: one of the two parents (mum in 90% of cases) is forced to stop working. Like in the 1950s.

Our wish for parents in Quebec: that the 2022 elections be the last where we wonder how to find places in subsidized daycare for children who do not have them.

In 2026, this problem must be solved. Each family that wishes must have a subsidized place for their child. So that the child has quality childcare services. And so that parents can return to the labor market, if that is their wish. The social and economic benefits of the CPE network are enormous.

Unfortunately, a subsidized place cannot be found for 33,800 children shouting scissors. Building a CPE takes at least two years.

For 13 years, the Charest and Couillard governments did not really believe in CPEs. From 2005 to 2020 (note 1), Quebec created more non-subsidized spaces (66,600) than subsidized spaces (38,200). It cost less in the short term, but today it gives us a two-speed system.

Last winter, Quebec funded the creation of 37,000 subsidized spaces over three years. It was time ! It is calculated that all the children will have a place by 2025. Flowers: Quebec is moving forward as quickly as possible. The pot: only two thirds of these new places will be in CPE. When possible, Quebec should always opt for a new place in CPE. The quality of services is better there, and non-profit organizations are subsidized.

The second part of the CAQ’s plan was unveiled on Friday: to convert 50,000 unsubsidized spaces into subsidized spaces within five years. We would have liked an even more ambitious schedule.

After the CAQ, the PLQ, QS and the PQ will soon unveil their version of the same game plan: offer a subsidized place in daycare to all children.

(Only the Conservative Party of Quebec takes a different—and backward—view of axing CPE grants to provide a taxable allowance for parents.)

For the next government, the most difficult thing will be to respect this long-term game plan. For example, to ensure that the 50,000 places converted offer services commensurate with their level of subsidies.

Let’s level up. Not down.

Note 1: Charest government: from 2003 to 2012. Couillard government: from 2014 to 2018. We took from 2005 to 2020 because it is more representative (it takes two years to build a CPE).