Three-quarters of complaints regarding the health and safety of children in the childcare network target subsidized or unsubsidized private daycares, worries the Parti Québécois (PQ).
Between April 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024, more than a third of complaints, 36.5%, targeted unsubsidized private daycares, even though these establishments constitute barely 20% of the early childhood network, according to data obtained by the Parti Québécois (PQ) and transmitted to The Canadian Press.
Likewise, 40.7% of complaints concerned subsidized private daycares, although they represent 21% of the offer.
So in total, subsidized and unsubsidized private daycares were the subject of 77.2% of complaints, even though they make up a little more than 40% of the network.
In comparison, Early Childhood Centers (CPE), which represent 35% of the network, generated 19.4% of the volume of plains.
The PQ, which calls for a 100% CPE network, criticizes the Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy, for being “clearly in favor of the private sector”.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon accused the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of making the deliberate choice of offering lower quality services. He recalled that, however, the government had included in its law that it wanted to prioritize CPEs.
“If the data shows that CPEs are better for Quebec families, why does it continue to favor the development of private places? » asked the leader of the PQ to François Legault during the question period.
“What is important is that there are places offered, that parents have access to these places and that quality services are provided, so we are not dogmatic », pleaded Mr. Legault.
In figures, 2,387 complaints concerning children’s health and safety issues were received at the complaints office of the Complaints and Inspections Directorate at the Ministry of Families.
This includes each subject of complaint as well as reports, and affects the health and safety of children as well as people in contact with a childcare service.