Government of Canada commits $6 billion to Quebec’s early learning childcare
By Dami Igbinyemi
The Quebec network of educational childcare services was launched in 1997, with the goal of providing quality affordable places for kids under six to learn. Quebec has been leading the charge in early childcare learning across the country and the Government of Canada will be providing additional funding to expand and grow their services, as well as to improve the working conditions of their educators.
Today, Prime Minister, Mr. Justin Trudeau, the Premier of Quebec, Mr. François Legault, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada, Mr. Ahmed Hussen, as well as the Quebec Minister of Families and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, Mathieu Lacombe, announced funding of almost $6 billion over the next five years for Quebec’s early learning and childcare services.
“All families should have access to affordable, quality childcare. That’s why we’re investing in early learning and childcare from coast to coast to coast to establish Canada’s first pan-Canadian learning and childcare network. Today’s agreement with Quebec will further improve the system of which Quebeckers have reason to be so proud. This agreement will provide Quebec families and communities with additional help as we rebuild better after the pandemic. “– The Honorable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
This agreement is part of Canada’s Budget 2021 plan to provide parents across the country with childcare for an average of $10 per day in the next six years. Quebec has a rate of $8.50 per day. Budget 2021 allows for new investments to form, totalling about $30 billion over the next five years plus any previous investment revealed since 2015.
“The Government of Quebec has the freedom and the responsibility to choose how it will spend the amounts announced today by the federal government, but, for us, it is clear that this money must go for families. Thousands of parents are looking for a place in childcare services for their children. François Legault and Mathieu Lacombe must recognize the crisis of the lack of places which is striking in all regions of Quebec.
They must immediately commit to Quebeckers that the funds be used to create the additional places needed to fill the entire waiting list, which is 51,000 children. Remember that Mathieu Lacombehad promised the creation of 13,500 places for February 2021. However, only 3,000 were made, or 22% of the places promised. Beautiful promises are not enough: we need results for Quebec families.” -Marc Tanguay, official opposition spokesperson for families.
Image source – Prime Minister’s Twitter feed
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