The Quebec government is very upset with public daycares threatening to eliminate meals.
The Quebec CPE Association said Tuesday evening that the $74 million in cuts in the latest provincial budget could force some daycares to reduce their spending on food, going so far as to eliminate breakfast at some locations.
Family Minister Francine Charbonneau was outraged when she heard that, and warned CPEs that they will be sanctioned if they cut meals -- especially since many CPEs are sitting on a surplus of funds.
"It is unacceptable to think that as a minister I'm going to tolerate someone that says that they're cutting the food of the children they have. They get $60 a day to give the service they have to give. Nothing has changed!" declared Charbonneau.
The minister added that lunches and snacks given to children are mandated by law, but did not specify what kind of sanctions that daycares would face if they did not provide adequate food for childen.
Charbonneau also suggested that CPEs should use their surplus of $177 million to deal with reducing operating costs - but CPEs say they want to keep that money for construction and repairs.
The head of the CPE Association said there must have been some misunderstading, because there was never any suggestion of daycares not providing lunches or breaks. However some CPEs provide breakfast, which is not mandated by law.
Louis Senecal added some CPEs had been using their budgets to pay for breakfast for children who show up early at daycare.
