This page contains a compilation of publicly available community responses and submissions to the consultation on educational childcare services conducted by the Government of Quebec between April and June 2021.
The majority of the information is available in French only; however, a translation tool can be used to assist with the content. In addition, Google Chrome browers will automatically translate webpages.
Child care
Un accès pour toutes les familles…enfin!
Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE), 21 October 2021
L'Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE) welcomes the government of Quebec's action plan to complete the network of educational childcare services. The AQCPE and its member expect that a large majority of the development projects will be in CPEs to meet the need for quality child care expansion. The association notes that targeted resources and collaboration between various stakeholders are required to improve accessibility to vulnerable children. The AQCPE also support the government's intent to move towards a fully regulated family child care system. Finally, the AQCPE emphasizes that quality child care must be accompanied by qualified staff and on-going professional development in both centre- and home-based child care.
Mémoire de l’Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE)
Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE), 1 June 2021
L'Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE) presents its recommendations as part of the Quebec consultation on educational childcare services. The report emphasizes that Quebec must officially recognize the right of all children to quality early childhood educational services on a non-mandatory basis. It also highlights that parent preferences and quality research all point to the model of centres de la petite enfance (CPE) and family child care which are regulated and subsidized.
Joindre les enfants les plus vulnérables pour leur offrir des services
Collectif petite enfance, June 2021
The Collectif petite enfance presents their recommendations regarding the barriers for families in general, and vulnerable families in particular, to access early childhood education services. Collectif petite enfance emphasizes on systemic barriers, more specifically the lack of collaboration between different government levels, between ministries and also between services.
Mémoire du Conseil québécois des services éducatifs à la petite enfance (CQSEPE)
Conseil québécois des services éducatifs à la petite enfance (CQSEPE), June 2021
Le Conseil québécois des services éducatifs à la petite enfance (CQSEPE) presents their recommendations addressing (1) the lack of spaces, labour shortage, and access to subsidized child care; (2) admission policy, children with special needs, disadvantaged areas, one-stop access to child care services, and non-standard hour care; (3) promoting family child care; and (4) children in vulnerable situations and children with special needs.
Municipalities
Mémoire de l'Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ)
Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), 10 June 2021
L'Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) presents their recommendations addressing: the need to create new quality subsidized spaces for all children in need; formal submission of space requirement estimation by municipalities; integrating child care services into new infrastructure projects and collaboration among departments and organizations; and professional recognition of the child care workforce.
Mémoire de la Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM)
Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM), 17 June 2021
La Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM) recommends in particular facilitating the issuance of permits to projects supported by the community and municipality with the aim of granting greater flexibility and agility to the network. The Federation also emphasizes that up-to-date and precise data must be used to guide the development of new child care services where there are the needs. The report also calls for the establishment of a national committee to review the process of allocating and developing child care spaces in order to respond more quickly to the changing needs of the communities.
Public health
Mémoire de la Direction régionale de santé publique (DRSP) de Montréal
Directrice régionale de santé publique (DRSP) de Montréal, 17 June 2021
La Directrice régionale de santé publique (DRSP) de Montréal presents their recommendations to improve child care services in Montreal and in Quebec as a whole. Key recommendations include: prioritize access to CPEs for children from low-income families and those having developmental challenges; support the partnership between child care services and integrated university health and social services centres; and reduce structural barriers to the development of CPEs through engaging municipalities and districts to integrate the development of child care centres in urban planning.
Community
Mémoire de la Fédération québécoise des organismes communautaires du Québec (FQOCF)
Fédération québécoise des organismes communautaires du Québec (FQOCF), 1 June 2021
The report by the Fédération québécoise des organismes communautaires du Québec (FQOCF) brings attention to solutions to increase access for families in vulnerable situations to drop-in centres (halte-garderies) and to various child care services. The recommendations also address non-standard care, networking between local organizations, workforce presence in the advisory committees, current lack of spaces and child care labour shortage.
Business
Mémoire de la Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ)
Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), 1 June 2021
In its report, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) highlights that a thorough assessment of child care space coverage rate is crucial to address the shortage of child care spaces and its impact to the vitality and competitiveness of industries. The recommendations also mention the need to establish flexible hour child care to support workers with non-standard hours. In addition, the FCCQ includes recommendations regarding supporting the child care workforce and updating the salary scale, reducing administrative delays in building new child care centres, and use of federal transfer to ensure workers' access to affordable and quality child care services.