The Legault government in Quebec is making significant progress towards its goal of providing all children with a place in subsidized daycare, with 33,000 new subsidized spots created since 2021 out of the promised 37,000 by March 31, 2025.
Last spring, the Parti Québécois raised concerns about the government’s progress, noting that simply creating a spot does not guarantee availability. However, Families Minister Suzanne Roy’s press secretary, Catherine Pelletier, reported that nearly 10,000 subsidized places priced at $9.10 per day have been created just since January.
Pelletier also highlighted the decreasing number of children on the waiting list for subsidized daycare. In April 2023, there were 32,864 children waiting, which decreased to 31,145 by the following April. Despite adding 4,000 to 5,000 children of asylum seekers to the list over the past year, the number of children waiting has continued to decline.
In October 2023, there were 30,660 children waiting for a spot, compared to 32,359 in the same period the previous year. The government’s efforts to create more subsidized spots seem to be paying off, as the waiting list continues to shrink.
However, the Parti Québécois has raised concerns about the government’s ability to meet its commitment by the March 2025 deadline. According to the Ministry of Family’s own data, as of December 31, 2024, only 14,596 spots had been realized, leaving more than 22,000 spots to be created in the next 15 months.
While progress has been made, there are still challenges ahead in meeting the government’s ambitious goal. The ministry’s dashboard for April shows that 17,587 spots have been created, with an additional 8,618 unsubsidized private spots converted into subsidized spots. However, there are still 20,027 spots listed as “in progress,” making it unclear at what stage of completion they are in.
Despite these challenges, the Legault government’s efforts to expand subsidized daycare options for children in Quebec are making a positive impact, with thousands of new spots created and a decreasing number of children on the waiting list. The government’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible daycare for all children remains a top priority as they work towards their goal.